SEVENTEEN's announcement of their FOLLOW AGAIN tour has sparked outrage among their Korean fanbase. The revelation that the group will be in Japan on May 26, marking their 9th debut anniversary, has triggered a wave of discontent among fans.
The tour, set to span Korea and Japan with concerts in Incheon, Osaka, and Kanagawa, took an unexpected turn as Korean fans swiftly took to social media to voice their displeasure. Expressing their frustration, hashtags like "Japanese Idols" and "Seventeen Oppas" rapidly trended on Twitter.
Japanese Idols
Seventeen Oppas
The discontent primarily revolves around the perception that Korean fans are being neglected in favor of prioritizing the group's popularity in Japan. SEVENTEEN's immense success in the Japanese market has been a point of pride, but this scheduling decision has left Korean fans feeling overlooked on a significant milestone—the group's debut anniversary.
Fans lamented the unfortunate timing, expressing a sense of being sidelined in the celebration of a crucial moment in SEVENTEEN's history. Pledis Entertainment, the group's management agency, now faces the challenge of navigating this unexpected backlash and reassuring their Korean fanbase that their support is valued.
심지어 데뷔일에 일본에 있을거면 일본 아이돌하세요 그냥 pic.twitter.com/ZHZX61pZQx
— 0 (@bbo0720w) January 28, 2024
If you are going to be in Japan on your debut date, just be Japanese idols.
솔직히 좀 너무하다
— 윰윤윤 (@lentlilyoo_n) January 28, 2024
8주년도 love콘 일본에서 한다고 캐럿들 엄청 서운했었는데 이젠 앙콘으로까지 9주년을 일본에서 보내게하네?
다른나라에서 콘서트 하는건 너그럽게 이해는 하지만 이번 9주년까지 일본에서 콘서트하고 보내는건 많이 그렇다...
우리애들이 일본아이돌이냐? 한국 k-pop이야 pic.twitter.com/ut4zfh7ZQs
To be honest, this is too much. Korean Carats were upset when they held their 8-year anniversary concert in Japan, and now they are holding their 9-year anniversary encore concert in Japan, too? I can understand the group performing in another country, but it’s disappointing that they are having their 9-year anniversary concert in Japan… Are our boys Japanese idols? They are K-Pop idols.
한국 9주년에 왜 일본에서 콘서트 함?
— 중 (@offline_turn) January 28, 2024
플레디스 진짜 개큰 지랄
니네 일본 아이돌 아니잖아
데뷔일까지도 일본에 있어야돼? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
국내 팬들은 대체 뭐니? 이러고도 우리가 아무 이유 없이 징징대는 것 같아?
인천 앙콘 줬으니까 그만이라고 생각해? pic.twitter.com/PkoSzCLMHM
Why are they having their 9-year anniversary in Japan? Pledis is really stupid. They aren’t Japanese idols, do they have to be in Japan on their debut date? Do you even care about Korean fans? Do you still think we are crying over nothing? Do you think that because you are holding an encore concert in Incheon, we shouldn’t be upset?
As the news continues to reverberate through the SEVENTEEN fandom, the agency may need to address concerns and find a balance that acknowledges the diverse fanbase's expectations.
The incident serves as a reminder of the delicate equilibrium required when managing the global success of K-pop groups and the importance of considering the sentiments of fans from various regions.