Aiken Promotions defends K-Pop tribute act following complaints about Belfast show

K-Pop is coming to Cork this summer.

Aiken Promotions has defended a K-Pop tribute show at the SSE Arena in Belfast following complaints online about the quality of the show.

The K-Pop Forever! Tribute show took place at the SSE on Thursday evening, with further performances due to take place across the country next week and into next month.

In Cork, the highly anticipated show sold out all seven performances across six dates, from February 24 to May 14.

K-Pop is characterised by elements of pop, hip-hop, and dance music filtered through a Korean lens, and has seen huge global success through acts such as BTS, Blackpink, and the Netflix film KPop Demon Hunters.

The description of the K-Pop Forever! Tribute show says the concert features “all-live performances of smash-hits including: ‘Blackpink’, ‘BTS’, ‘Twice’, ‘Soda Pop’, ‘Golden’ and many more, this is the ultimate non-stop party”.

The description also says that the concert features “breathtaking choreography, plus songs inspired by the record-breaking film KPop Demon Hunters”.

For some concert-goers, however, the show did not live up to expectations, with a number of parents taking to social media to voice their concerns.

Some who attended the event on Thursday complained about the quality of the performances, with videos circulating online showing some people walking out of the show.

Others were quick to side with promoter Aiken Promotions, saying that people hadn’t read the concert’s description and that it was never intended to be a KPop Demon Hunters tribute show, but rather a tribute to K-Pop as a genre.

A statement released by Aiken Promotions on Thursday night read: "We are aware of some feedback received following the K-Pop Forever tribute show.

“The show played in Belfast tonight as part of a world tour, and the content, design and choreography has been built to represent the full K-Pop genre, featuring songs from BTS, Blackpink and Katseye, as well as eight hits from Demon Hunters including 'Golden', 'Takedown' and 'Soda Pop'.

“Whilst the majority of customers enjoyed the show, we understand that this was not what some expected; however, we are content that the show delivered was an arena-standard tribute to the entire K-Pop genre.” 

Seven shows across six dates are set for the Cork Opera House, with the first show on Tuesday, February 24. Other dates include Monday, May 4, Wednesday, May 6, Tuesday, May 12, Wednesday, May 13 and Thursday, May 14.

K-Pop Forever! Tribute will also perform three sold-out nights at the 3Arena in Dublin on Monday, March 9, Tuesday, March 10, and Wednesday, March 11.