The song, released earlier this month, left critics worldwide surprised by mentioning Adolf Hitler and including parts of old Nazi speeches. Not surprisingly, the reaction was fast and mostly unfavorable. Some people in South Korea, where public figures are expected to act responsibly, urged the artist to admit his faults.
In South Korea, the concert attracted a lot of attention because a major online company helped promote it with Kanye’s team. Yet, when the negative response increased, the company decided to not join the event, saying they opposed the controversial actions. “It’s important to us to value respect and social responsibility,” the company said. Being in the entertainment business in South Korea often means you are expected to keep a clean reputation. People who produce racist, violent or harmful art are usually dealt with severely. Local groups pulling out of the concert were probably concerned that going ahead with Kanye could draw protests or cause complications with the law.
If music is important to us, it isn’t limited to one band or track. It’s the task of well-known artists to be careful about cultural differences when putting on shows for foreign audiences. What people ignore in their own country could offend or upset people in other countries. South Korea crossed the line in what happened. People who had bought tickets for the concert are upset, but most realize why it was canceled. Since what matters to the public is most important, the show could not go on.
We do not know yet whether Kanye West will answer to those who spoke out against him or choose to stage another performance in South Korea in the future. For the moment, the story is still followed and people are still
- https://www.allkpop.com/article/2025/05/kanye-wests-solo-concert-in-south-korea-cancelled-following-pro-hitler-song-controversy
- https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/english/music/news/kanye-wests-pro-hitler-song-faces-backlash-concert-in-south-korea-cancelled-ahead-of-public-criticism/articleshow/121283761.cms
- Reported by Rimi Majumder
Intern at The Korean Academy
Korean News Analysis and Reporting
