[Ariana Grande's Instagram]
Traditionally, popular foreign artists and bands such as Lady Gaga, Metallica, Beyoncé and Eminem have received positive marks by South Korean fans after their concerts. Some left unforgettable impressions which often have become a hot topic in online communities.
Lady Gaga and Eminem were praised by music fans for pulling surprisingly sincere, superb performances during their concerts in South Korea.
However, American pop star Ariana Grande received a largely critical response from fans. Many who paid up to 143,000 won to buy tickets compared the 24-year-old to Lady Gaga and Eminem or criticized her insincere attitude during her first August 15 concert at a baseball stadium in Seoul.
"Seoul, you were magical. Thank you for your beautiful, loving energy tonight," Grande tweeted.
She arrived from Japan, just three hours before her concert, scheduled at 8:00 pm (1100GMT) Tuesday. Her action stood out in comparison because she arrived in Japan a few days before her concert and was seen practicing at a rehearsal.
Unfortunately, August 15 was the very crucial "Liberation Day" marking an end to Japan's harsh colonial rule at the end of World War II in 1945, and relations between Seoul and Tokyo remain soured mainly over "comfort women" sexually enslaved by Japan's imperial army.
"Very unusual for any artist", wrote "Nori", a user from South Korea's online community "Clien". "Normally, an artist would at least try to test out a rehearsal before his or her actual concert."
Grande triggered a flurry of criticism from South Korean fans after she uploaded a short video clip of her singing inside a bathroom at a Seoul hospital about an hour before her concert.
Meanwhile, chaos broke out at Gocheok Stadium when concert organizers refused to let people in for no actual reason when the pop star did not start her concert about half an hour late than preannounced.
"People with VIP seat tickets received no benefits because they had to enter the stadium with other standing ticker holders," said "Unnamed Deok" from an online community called "Theqoo". "VIP ticket holders were promised to pre-enter the concert but we had to endure all the inconveniences just because Grande was late."
Some insisted the quality of Grande's concert was very poor. "Grande's performance was not bad but the stage, sound, lighting, and everything was disastrous. It was the first time I have felt that I put my money to a waste after a concert," said a Clien user named "RedChic".
As criticism got heavier, Hyundai Card, a South Korean credit card company which arranged the concert, said that VIP tickets were sold through Grande's management company and the chaos at the stadium was caused by misunderstanding and has nothing to do with organizers.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
