Bangkapi Venue for ‘IZ*ONE’ Concert Leaves Fans Groaning

Image: Izone / Twitter

BANGKOK — Korean-Japanese pop group Iz*One is set to perform in Bangkok in their first tour of Asia, according to event organizers. But some fans of the hybrid J-K-pop assemble have bridled at the venue chosen.

Writing in an online post yesterday, StarShowTH said the all-girl band will take the stage at The Mall Bangkapi’s MCC Hall on June 16, 2019. Ticket prices and seating information have yet to be announced.

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First, there are concerns that the MCC Hall – which only has about 4,000 seats – will be too small for the group’s legions of fans, also known as Wizone. Then there’s the perpetual traffic congestion, with the mall located in a dense eastern residential area. There are no nearby metro or skytrain stations.

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“Their first concert in Thailand will be held in a very cramped space. Hard to get to and limited range of food,” @NerdTS tweeted under the hashtag #IZONEinBKK. “It’s horrible because I want them to have a good impression of Thailand from their first concert here.”

“Wizone will have to struggle for air to breathe inside the MCC Hall,” @JIIIBCherokee tweeted.

The venue is also infamously frequented by less-than-desirable crowds, such as youth biker gangs or dek van.

“The Mall Bangkapi is already notorious for the van and robbers. It’s their prime spot,” @NaKjn_phs tweeted.

Iz*One was formed by 12 winners of a Korean reality TV competition called Produce48, with candidates comprising K-pop artists from Korea and idols from Japan’s AKB48 group.

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The nine Korean members are Jang Won-young, Jo Yu-ri, Choi Ye-na, Ahn Yu-jin, Kwon Eun-bi, Kang Hye-won, Kim Chae-won, Kim Min-ju and Lee Chae-yeon. The Japanese trio consists of Hitomi Honda, Nako Yabuki, and Sakura Miyawaki.