BTS’ Japanese fan meetings cause uproar online amid Tokyo-Seoul diplomatic row

Some South Korean BTS fans have demanded the group cancel their upcoming meet-and-greet sessions with Japanese fans

It comes amid heightened tensions between Tokyo and Seoul triggered by Tokyo’s sanctions on exports of some Japanese goods to South Korea

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BTS performed in front of more than 200,000 fans during concerts in Japanlast month last month. Photo: Handout

Published: 2:30am, 28 Aug 2019Updated: 2:46am, 28 Aug 2019

K-pop supergroup BTS were applauded for bringing the people of South Korea and Japan together last month, despite the countries’ deteriorating diplomatic ties, after performing in front of more than 200,000 fans during concerts in Japan.

But when the seven-member outfit announced plans for a set of fan meetings in Japan later this year, many angry fans demanded that BTS management agency Big Hit Entertainment cancel the trip, Japanese news agency Yonhap reported.

Last Friday, Big Hit announced that BTS would hold meet-and-greet sessions with Japanese fans in Chiba on November 22 and 23 and in Osaka on December 14 and 15. The announcement came amid heightened tensions between South Korea and Japan triggered by Tokyo’s sanctions on exports of some Japanese goods to South Korea imposed in early July.

The South Korean government accused Tokyo of imposing the sanctions to protest against court orders telling Japanese companies to compensate forced labourers during Japan’s 1910-1945 colonial rule of the Korean peninsula.

Big Hit have announced that BTS will hold meet-and-greet sessions with Japanese fans in Chiba and Osaka later this year. Photo: Handout

Then last week, South Korea terminated an agreement with Japan that allowed the two countries to share sensitive military intelligence amid the nuclear and missile threats from North Korea.

The deepened diplomatic rows further escalated a boycott of Japanese merchandise, services and tours by South Korean consumers.