Concerns growing over large music concert this weekend in Cheongju

Some 10,000 people are expected gather for the “Mr. Trot” concert scheduled for this weekend in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, raising concerns over the possible spread of COVID-19 infections. Captured from Showplay website

By Jun Ji-hye

Concerns are being raised over a large music event scheduled for Saturday and Sunday in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, as some 10,000 people are expected to gather there amid growing concerns over another wave of COVID-19 infections.

According to Cheongju city, six trot singers who were featured in TV Chosun's smash hit audition show, “Mr. Trot,” including winner Lim Young-woong, will take the stage for concerts that will be held four times over two days in the city. Each concert is expected to draw around 2,500 people.

The concert was planned as North Chungcheong Province is currently under the lowest, Level 1, social distancing measure.

But new daily COVID-19 infections have recently surged in the Seoul metropolitan area, which includes Incheon and Gyeonggi Province, with health officials applying the toughest social distancing rule of Level 4 to the area to prevent a further increase in infections and stemming a spread to other parts of the country.

An official from Showplay, the concert tour production company which produced the “Mr. Trot” tour, said Friday, “The planned event in Cheongju will proceed as planned as Level 4 rules are not applied to the region. We will take strict antivirus measures though.”

The official added the company decided to indefinitely postpone the event scheduled for July 16 to 18 in Seoul, and cancel one scheduled for July 23 to 25 in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, amid virus concerns.