"K-Idol Coming" Frenzy in Russia... Growing Criticism Saying "Why Bother During the War"

CIX to Hold Concert Tour in Moscow on the 26th
Russian Fans Cheered but Some Expressed Concerns
"Will You Perform in Bukhan Too?", "War Criminal Nation" Reactions

Idol group CIX has announced that they will hold a concert in Russia, which is currently at war, raising concerns among fans worldwide.

CIX's agency recently announced through official social media (SNS) and their cafe that “CIX will hold a solo concert ‘0 or 1’ in Moscow, Russia on the 26th.” This concert is part of the tour that started in Seoul in April and continued through eight cities in North America in May.

Idol group CIX.
[Image source=C9 Entertainment]

This concert will be CIX's first solo performance in Russia. While Russian fans have shown mixed feelings of excitement and anticipation, some fans have voiced opposition due to Russia's ongoing war with Ukraine. As of the morning of the 2nd, the X (formerly Twitter) post announcing CIX's concert in Russia has garnered over 1.3 million views. Most comments have labeled Russia as a war criminal state. Fans protested to the agency in English, saying, “Is the next concert going to be held in North Korea as well?” and “Cancel the concert for the safety of the artists.” Korean fans also expressed cautious reactions, asking, “Is it safe to go?” and “We need to consider the victims’ countries.”

However, this is not the first time a Korean idol group has held a concert in Russia. The multinational girl group X:IN, which includes a Russian member, held a solo concert in Moscow last May. The event attracted attention as all 20,000 seats were sold out immediately.

The war between Russia and Ukraine has been ongoing for three years. On the 30th of last month (local time), AFP reported that “According to a draft of the three-year financial plan for 2025-2027 released by the Russian parliament, the Russian government has set the defense budget for next year at 13.5 trillion rubles (approximately 19.0755 trillion won).” This is a 23% increase compared to this year’s defense spending and exceeds the combined budgets for education, healthcare, social policy, and the national economy. With the Russian government significantly increasing its defense budget, concerns are rising that the end of the war in Ukraine may be further delayed.