[Reporter's Notebook] No K-pop on a Dead Planet

"No PET Bottles Allowed"
A Concert Experience That Calls for Change in K-pop's Environmental Practices

"No PET bottled water allowed. You don't have any food in your bag, right?"

This was the scene at Goyang Sports Complex, where I went to cover the concert of the British band Coldplay. Security checks were in full swing at the entrance. The entry of single-use plastic water bottles was prohibited, and only reusable bottles were permitted. On stage, the Coldplay members also drank water from tumblers. Around the venue, 'water stations' equipped with large water dispensers were set up, and water in sterilized paper packs was also sold.

Upon entry, attendees were given LED wristbands (Gyro Bands), and announcements repeatedly asked for them to be returned after the show. These bands are made from plant-based biodegradable materials and are reused for future concerts. Once the concert began, the bands glowed in various colors in sync with the music?yellow during the 'Yellow' stage, and rainbow colors during 'Viva La Vida'?enhancing the audience's immersion. Their presence was as significant as the 50,000 won light sticks at idol concerts.

On the electronic display, messages informed the audience that part of the ticket proceeds would be used for forest restoration and ocean cleanup. In the standing area, devices were installed that allowed the audience to generate electricity by jumping or pedaling a bicycle. The determination to reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment was evident throughout the concert.

Greenhouse gases are emitted throughout the entire concert process, including the movement of artists and staff, the production of fan merchandise ('goods'), and stage setup. Coldplay was shocked to learn that music concerts in the UK alone generated 4 million tons of greenhouse gases annually as of 2019. In response, they suspended their world tour, which generated 600 billion won in revenue, and devised more sustainable methods.

This movement offers significant implications for the K-pop industry as well. After K-pop concerts, the venue is often left with mountains of waste, including PET bottles and light stick packaging. In particular, light sticks, which are released in new designs for every concert, have earned the reputation of being "pretty trash." The issue of bulk CD buying is also problematic. Fans purchase multiple albums to obtain photo cards of their favorite members, and the rest are often discarded, a cycle that repeats itself.

According to data obtained by Park Hongbae, a member of the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee from the Democratic Party, from the Ministry of Environment last November, the amount of plastic used by domestic music production companies for albums, packaging, and goods increased from 573 tons in 2019 to 2,264 tons in 2023?nearly a fourfold increase.

On April 16, at the 'Global Music Industry Climate Summit' held in the United States, K-pop fans directly raised the issue by chanting, "No KPOP on a Dead Planet." The main consumer group of K-pop, 'Gen Z' (those born from the mid-1990s to the 2010s), is a generation that values ethical consumption. For them, environmentally destructive marketing no longer works.

Nevertheless, the reason entertainment agencies continue to ignore this issue is clear. It is because the profits they gain from these practices are significant. This is the shameful underside hidden beneath the glamorous surface of the K-pop industry. It is time for Korea, the 'birthplace of K-pop,' to seriously reflect on the message delivered by Coldplay's eco-friendly concert.