Korea Entertainment Pauses After Deadly Plane Crash: BTS, Stray Kids And More Share Condolences

The Korean entertainment industry has come to a halt following a devastating, deadly plane crash at Muan International Airport in South Korea on Sunday.

The Jeju Air-operated Boeing 737-800 tragically crashed while landing in the southwest county, killing 179 of the 181 passengers onboard. The incident marks the deadliest aviation disaster in South Korea in nearly three decades. In light of the tragedy, major entertainment companies, television networks, and K-pop artists are pausing activities to honor the victims and their families as the country enters a week of mourning.

A Nation in Mourning

The crash occurred as the plane, en route from Bangkok, overshot the runway at Muan, resulting in a fiery explosion. The incident prompted South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, to declare a weeklong national mourning period.

South Korea’s leading television networks quickly adjusted their programming schedules to prioritize news coverage and respect the somber atmosphere.

Television and radio broadcaster MBC canceled its highly anticipated 2024 MBC Entertainment Awards and postponed the latest episode of the popular singing competition The King of Mask Singer (the show from which FOX created The Masked Singer). Meanwhile, national broadcaster KBS pulled its variety shows from programming—including Gag Concert, Boss in the Mirror and 2 Days & 1 Night—while SBS announced that its music program Inkigayo and long-running hit variety show Running Man would not air.

K-Pop Industry Pauses Amid Deadly Plane Crash

The tragedy has reverberated throughout the K-pop industry with top artists and agencies halting promotional activities.

BTS’ agency, BIGHIT MUSIC, announced the postponement of content celebrating member V’s 29th birthday, initially scheduled for his special day on Dec. 30, while sharing their prayers and condolences for those affected by the accident in a statement.

“We pray for the souls of those who passed away in the aircraft accident and send our deepest condolences to the bereaved families,” the statement read. “We ask for your generous understanding that we will not post content related to V’s birthday scheduled today.”

Stray Kids delayed the release of the music video for “As We Are,” a track performed by member Seungmin from the boy band’s latest No. 1 album HOP.

Similarly, SEVENTEEN’s splinter group BSS postponed promotional content for their upcoming single, Teleparty, expressing condolences and promising to announce a revised schedule. Girl group IVE, whose new album IVE Empathy is set for release in February, paused their promotional activities for Dec. 29 and 30, despite a new single dropping on Jan. 13. While not officially announced, the mourning period may delay several upcoming K-pop releases, as was the case when the country was in a mourning period following the 2022 crowd crush on Halloween.

After solo singer AleXa spoke with fans on social media before a flight she was on took off early on Dec. 29, the singer still assured fans of her safety upon landing, even though her prior communications made it clear she was not on the tragic flight from Bangkok.

“Hey guys I just landed safely,” she wrote. “I didn’t buy the WiFi on the flight so I literally just heard the news. Thank you for being worried about me, but I assure you I am fine, as it was not my flight. My heart goes out to all the victims and their families. What a horrible accident.”

Other artists including A.C.E, VIVIZ, EVERGLOW, WEi, ZEROBASEONE and many more have followed suit, rescheduling content and live appearances while offering heartfelt condolences.

Uncertain but Unified Future for Korea’s Year-End Celebrations

As the country and entertainment industry grapples with the tragedy, the status of major year-end events remains uncertain.

At press time, the 2024 MBC Gayo Daejejeon music festival, set to feature performances from 32 artists including ATEEZ, ITZY, and NewJeans, is still scheduled for Dec. 31. The network shared that they are discussing whether or not to cancel the event.

The Korean entertainment industry’s collective pause underscores its solidarity with the nation during this time of grief. As the country mourns the lives lost in the Muan plane crash, K-pop artists and agencies are prioritizing compassion and respect, demonstrating the industry’s sensitivity to societal tragedies. This pause in activities serves as a somber but important reminder of the interconnectedness of South Korea’s cultural and national identities, with stars and companies stepping back from schedules and profits to honor the profound loss felt across the country.