‘Put your phone down’: K-pop band weighs in on concert etiquette

K-pop Group Cortis Encourages Fans to Disconnect from Screens

Ninoda.com – As the five-piece K-pop ensemble Cortis launched their worldwide tour in Incheon, South Korea, the members walked onto the stage dressed in relaxed streetwear that projected an easygoing confidence. One of the performers shouted directly to the crowd: “Put your phone down.” The audience responded with loud screams, and countless glowing displays lit up the darkness. “I told you, put your phone down,” the same member called out again, this time with more volume. While some concertgoers complied, the stadium’s energy intensified as thousands of devices remained raised overhead. The sincerity of this theatrical instruction remains somewhat unclear.

A Tour with a Message

The phrase “Put your phone down” serves as both a directive and the title of Cortis’s current concert series, which commenced in Incheon on July 18. The itinerary features stops in New York and Los Angeles before the group returns to Seoul later in the month. This recurring theme communicates a longstanding belief held by the band: audiences should experience live performances with their own eyes rather than through smartphone screens. This stance has generated varied responses within their fanbase, where recorded content holds significant social value.

Park Ji-yeon, a 22-year-old devoted follower, found it impossible to stop documenting Cortis’s shows. She even rented an expensive new smartphone specifically for the two-day concert to ensure maximum recording quality. “I was standing right at the front, and I couldn’t bring myself to put my phone down because I don’t know if I’ll ever get this opportunity again,” she explained to the BBC. “I usually film concerts because I know a lot of those memories will fade as soon as I leave the venue.”

Fans Respond Differently

Not everyone followed the band’s lead. Kim Ga-eun, aged 25 and seated in an amphitheater setting, observed the full spectrum of reactions. “People in the back of the standing section were having a great time dancing together. I thought that really reflected the intention behind the concert,” she noted.

Cortis has experienced remarkable growth since their debut last year under BigHit Music, the same label responsible for BTS. Most members remain in their teenage years, with James, the eldest at 20, leading the group. Their visual content has accumulated millions of views collectively. Over the weekend, they appeared at Chicago’s renowned Lollapalooza festival.

Broader Industry Movement

The name Cortis originates from “colour outside the lines,” representing what their record label describes as the group’s independent nature and rejection of conventional expectations. This philosophy extends to their audience management as well. They align with numerous international performers promoting similar practices. Artists including Phoebe Bridgers and Alicia Keys have mandated lock pouches—sealed containers enabling phone possession without screen access. Even BTS, K-pop’s premier act, has issued comparable guidance. “Stop looking at your phone screen. Just look at me,” Jungkook playfully urged fans during one appearance.

British rock band Suede took matters further when frontman Brett Anderson jumped over a barrier during a 2023 Singapore show to retrieve a fan’s device. Meanwhile, Billie Eilish, who supports filming as a means of preserving memories, softly encouraged her Amsterdam audience: “Put your phone down, I’m right here.”

The Value of Live Connection

Park offered insight into the band’s perspective: “From the artists’ perspective, interacting with fans is a really important part of performing, so I think they want people to focus more on that than on their phones.” This sentiment connects to the K-pop community’s appreciation for fancams—close-up recordings highlighting individual performers. These videos circulate widely, allowing enthusiasts to analyze choreography details and capture nuanced expressions. Such clips fuel collective admiration and inspire fan-created compilations.

BTS supporters have grown accustomed to the group’s occasional requests to lower their devices. Yet Cortis’s persistent messaging has frustrated certain fans within a culture deeply invested in documentation.