CORTIS Sparks Controversy During Debut World Tour Put Your Phone Down

According to reports from Chosunbiz and The Korea Times, the group intends to challenge traditional K-pop concert norms by urging audiences to disconnect from their devices to focus on the live experience.

Koreaboo reports that the group’s first-ever concert setlist sparked huge controversy and brutal reactions from listeners, though the specific points of contention within the musical selection remain a primary focus of fan discourse on social media.

The decision to limit phone usage is central to the tour’s identity. Starnews Korea detailed the group’s approach in a Q&A session conducted one day prior to the tour launch, where the members emphasized the theme of the tour’s title, Put Your Phone Down, as a directive for the audience.

This mandate targets Generation MZ, a demographic known for heavy smartphone integration. Sports Chosun describes the group’s effort to snatch phones from Generation MZ as a move that sets a new milestone for the K-pop industry, which typically encourages fans to record and share clips of performances to increase viral visibility.

CORTIS Tour Strategy and Fan Response

While The Korea Times questions if the group can successfully break the K-pop mold with this approach, the immediate reaction has been polarized.

The Incheon launch serves as the testing ground for this philosophy.

Impact on Generation MZ and K-pop Norms

The focus on Generation MZ is a deliberate choice by CORTIS.