On October 29, news surfaced regarding SEVENTEEN’s pre-recording for Mnet’s “M Countdown” on October 15 at the CJ ENM Studio Center in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. A fan, identified as “A”, who attended the recording, shared a post on SNS on October 22, titled “Official Apology and Request for Rectification for Fan Safety Issue at SEVENTEEN Pre-Recording on October 15, 2024” . The post went viral on X (formerly Twitter), having been retweeted over 1,000 times.
A claimed that 1,700 people were crammed into a space intended for only 1,600. Fans in the floor section reportedly felt life-threatening pressure as they were pushed from all sides. Many fainted or became ill, some were carried out during the show. The fan also said attendees had to wear varsity jackets, leading to dehydration-related fainting spells due to the heavy clothing.
A also described the aftermath, stating that after exiting the venue, there was limited space to rest, forcing many fans to sit or lie down on the asphalt. Another further criticized the lack of follow-up, despite staff collecting personal information from those affected.
I tried contacting the fan communication platform Weverse, but I received a response that said: “We can only provide assistance for problems that occur on site.” A frustration expressed, accusing Pledis, HYBE and CJ ENM of neglecting fans’ concerns despite their influence as major corporations.
A said that after A filed a complaint with the Korea Consumer Agency on October 18, Pledis requested photos or videos of the incident as evidence for compensation.
However, A explained that such evidence does not exist as participants were prohibited from using electronic devices within the study.
Not only A, but another SEVENTEEN fan, B, who was present at the scene, said: “That day, the stage was overhanging, which caused fans to flock to the center to get a closer look at the members, making it difficult for many audience members. The members present at the scene were also aware of the safety concerns and tried to quickly end the recording.”
In response, HYBE said: “The capacity of the set and the size of the security personnel on the day were determined according to the broadcast network manual, and both our company and the broadcaster have taken on-site measures to alleviate the public’s inconvenience, such as moving to rest areas and the supply of drinks.“
Additionally, a representative from ‘M Countdown’ said: “There is no specific position on this topic.”
Source: Daum
