The Korean pop music industry, which is leading the Korean wave, is paying close attention to the Japanese government’s announcement on March 5th that will ban virtually all Koreans from entering the country.
According to the K-pop industry, on March 6th, CJ ENM is on alert for the KCON 2020 to be held at the Makuhari Messe in Tokyo, Japan, from April 3rd to 5th. Popular Korean idol groups such as TOMORROW BY TOGETHER and IZ*ONE are expected to appear.
The KCON is a main platform of the Hallyu wave in Japan. Last year, 88,000 people gathered there, the largest ever. This is a fivefold increase compared to the 15,000 people who visited it when it opened in 2015. The cumulative number of viewers amounts to 250,000 people. It not only showcases music, but also Korean fashion and beauty.
However, there are fears that the Japanese government’s action yesterday will also affect KCON. Japan has decided to quarantine those arriving from Korea for two weeks until the end of this month. They will also stop visa-free entry.
Yesterday, local concert industry groups, including the Japan Music Operators Association, announced that they were postponing or canceling most concerts. This is because the Japanese government has asked to restrict performance on a large scale to prevent the spread of Corona 19. KCON has no choice but to be affected.
CJ ENM is trying to prepare for this looming situation.
Journalist: Shawn
Translator: Shawn
Source: CJ ENM
