Earlier this week, a netizen suddenly posted this message on an online community: “I have requested the cancellation of IU’s concert to Seoul City.”
Before you start wondering, is this person a hater? What did the 31-year-old South Korean pop diva do to offend them?
As it turns out, the person is not a hater but a diehard fan of South Korean footballer Son Heung Min, 32.
Last week (Sep 5), after a match against Palestine, Heung Min made a casual remark about the poor condition of the grass in the Seoul World Cup Stadium.
“There are many technically skilled players, but controlling the ball and dribbling was difficult. Fans probably found the slow tempo frustrating. I hope this improves when we play at home in the future,” he lamented.
This compelled football fans to take action against IU’s upcoming concert on September 22 at the same venue, as they believe the estimated 100,000 concertgoers would further worsen the condition of the grass in the stadium.
South Korea is scheduled to play against Iraq in the World Cup qualifiers on Oct 15, hence the concern South Korean football fans with regards to the stadium’s grass.
They even cited Article 5-3 of the Seoul City Ordinance on the Installation and Operation of Sports Facilities, which states that the city could deny or cancel the use of sports facilities if deemed necessary for facility management or other critical reasons recognised by the Seoul Mayor.
IU’s management agency Edam Entertainment Corp has since issued a statement regarding the matter.
They said they will strictly obey the regulations in the stadium and would educate their staff on how to protect the grass prior to the event.
The management would also be using ventilated covers on the grass to ensure they remain in their best condition.
In short, no, they are not cancelling the concert.