Presidential Inaugural Committee Confirms BTS Will Not Be Participating In Inauguration Event

BTS will not be performing at president-elect Yoon Suk Yeol’s presidential inauguration.

At a briefing held by the Presidential Inaugural Committee on April 11, committee chief Park Joo Sun explained, “Please do not misunderstand the situation. The 20th Presidential Inauguration to be held on May 10 is a state event. It is not a political event. Nor is it an arts event. In that sense, I do not think that the act of talking about political events will be appropriate.”

He continued, “BTS is currently holding concerts in Las Vegas. As a Korean citizen, I am proud to have come across foreign news that tickets for their concerts are already sold out and that Las Vegas has become heated with excitement.”

The chief further commented, “There is no doubt that BTS is a cultural asset that Korea takes pride in. Therefore, it is true that the Presidential Inaugural Committee reviewed various proposals including incorporating BTS’s performance at the presidential inauguration event, which is the most honorable and meaningful event carried out by ordinance.”

He added, “However, in the process of reviewing [our options], the president-elect expressed his desires on the event being simple but rich and a place to be together with children, young adults, members of vulnerable social groups, and lesser known artists to truly unite the nation. We agreed with his vision and thought that it would not be fitting to invite BTS this time.”

Park Joo Sun concluded, “Especially with our limited inauguration budget, there would be difficulty in hosting such a world-renowned group that is BTS, so we concluded that we will not be able to invite the group this time. I hope that there will come an opportunity for BTS to perform next time at a national event that appropriately matches the group’s prestige and fame.”

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