MERS scares people away from music festivals
By Kwon Ji-youn
Amid growing fears over the spread of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), more and more concert and festival-goers are demanding refunds, opting to stay at home instead of risking potential infection.
Some 130,000 people are expected to gather at the Jamsil Olympic Stadium in southern Seoul on June 12 and 13 to let loose at this year’s Ultra Music Festival (UMF), but organizers admitted Thursday they have been receiving calls requesting refunds.
“About 40 people called this morning to cancel their reservations,” said an organizer. “But unless a government advisory is issued, we won’t be cancelling or postponing the festival.”
She continued, “As far as I know, MERS is not airborne. Our festival does not include camping, so I don’t think it will be too big a problem.”
Regardless, concerned comments wallpapered the UMF’s official Facebook page Thursday, calling on organizers to call the event off or postpone it.
“My boyfriend and I purchased early bird tickets and we were planning to go both days,” wrote one Internet user. “But we’ve changed our minds. Some 100,000 people screaming and sweating so close to each other… The organizers should cancel on their own accord.”
Others said scare tactics aren’t reason enough to keep them away from one of the most-attended music festivals this summer.
UMF organizers stressed Friday no foreign artists or staffers have called to cancel their appearances. They resolved to do everything they can to ensure the well-being of audiences and said they will observe all instructions given by the health authorities.
“And we have altered the refund policy,” organizers said. “Those who will not be able to attend can request refunds through U-Ticket before June 11.”
Forty-one patients have been confirmed infected as of Friday 1 p.m. and more than 1,600 have been quarantined. The MERS outbreak started on May 20 with a patient who had visited several countries in the Middle East. Four patients who tested positive for MERS have died.
Even so, opera and dance companies are also pushing ahead with their gigs this weekend, despite increases in refund inquiries.
“A high school, which had reserved 60 tickets for a group viewing, called to cancel,” said an opera company staffer. “But cancelling or postponing this close to the performance date is not an option.”
“We will have sanitizers handy at all hall entrances for our guests, but unless advised by the government, we will not be postponing or cancelling performances,” said another.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, just 436,000 people visited theaters, 27 percent down from last week, and 12 percent down from a week prior.
“It reminds me of when the H1N1 flu virus hit us in 2009,” said an official with Lotte Cinema. “We’ve placed sanitizers at theater entrances, so we encourage visitors to make use of these.”
Other agencies have cancelled or postponed performances.
“The Vibe Family Concert,” to feature groups Vibe and 4Men, among others, has been tentatively shelved, and singer Lee Eun-mee has also tabled her concert, originally set for Sunday.
The “Monodrama Festival,” which had been scheduled to kick off on June 12, has been deferred until September.
“A meeting among the directors and organizers decided the festival should be postponed until the disease is no longer a threat,” said an organizer. “They say young people shouldn’t fret, but because festivals and concerts attract unspecified and random audiences, we didn’t want to risk it.”
Performances for children are also joining their ranks.
“Let It Go,” a children’s musical based loosely on the animated film “Frozen,” saw 400 of 600 group tickets cancelled before it decided to postpone the performance in Hanam, Gyeonggi Province. “Cinderella,” another children’s musical in Bucheon has also been receiving calls for refunds.