Psy under fire for summer concert that will 'waste' 300 tons of drinking water PER SHOW
Are K-pop festivals or concerts really 'complete' without idols splashing water on each other or their fans? Dumping water from bottles while performing highly energetic songs is a fad amongst many K-pop idols. Fans also love to see their idols let loose, jumping up and down on stage, as they drench fans with water. But when it comes to the living K-pop legend, Psy (PSY) there is not one song that the singer has dropped that is not energetic.
Psy’s most recent single, ‘That That’ went viral online when the singer held open performances for the song which showed entire stadiums thump to the beat of jumping fans. With so much energy displayed by both the singer and his fans, the Korean media and authorities are worried about Psy’s upcoming summer concert titled the ‘Psy The Water Show 2022’. The yearly summer event from Psy is finally coming back after a three-year hiatus this August but the way this concert is being advertised has raised concerns.
READ MORE
Psy's 'That That' ft. Suga of BTS becomes fastest 2022 music video to cross 100 M views on YouTube
Psy’s ‘That That’ with BTS Suga tops international charts, fans say ‘I like that’
Psy announces 'Water Show'
On June 3, Psy announced that he would hold his yearly summer event - ‘Psy The Water Show SUMMER SWAG 2022' which is also dubbed as the ‘Psy Soak Show’ for the first time since the summer of 2019. The event is Psy's representative brand concert that started in 2011 and over the years, it has witnessed high levels of anticipation. Fans look forward to live shows with huge water splashes intended to drench fans. Psy recently appeared on the MBC talk show, ‘Radio Stay’ in May, and revealed that his summer show used drinking water that was purchased with the intention of drenching fans.
Fans and media were shocked to learn that the event used upto 300 tons of water which is splashed onto fans using sprinkler trucks. This event used to be synonymous with summer in South Korea. But this year, Psy is being faced with backlash for participating in the show which will waste a lot of water despite the ongoing drought in South Korea, sccording to a news report in the Korea JoongAng Daily. It has been reported that South Korea is going through a severe nationwide drought since spring and is currently short on water for agricultural use and even industrial water for the steel industry.
Despite the drought, the event from Psy was announced and is marketed using the catchphrase, “So much water that it will make you wonder if we scooped up the Han River.” On one hand, some fans defended Psy that the use of so much water was necessary for artistic purposes, many Knetz claim that Psy should cancel or tone down the concert this year considering the drought and climate change in general. At present, the show is slated to take place on August 4 and 5 at the Jamsil Auxiliary Stadium in Seoul.
‘That’s so wasteful’
Fans are weighing in on the issue as one said, “No hate to Psy, but it does seem like kind of a waste of water if there's a drought on. Maybe it is time for a new theme.” Another fan said, “Wow, that’s so wasteful.” One more fan suggested, “Shoot some money out at them or something. Or do some beach balls but that’s too much water pre or post drought. Damn.” One fan said, “A total waste, I know it sounds cliché but there are people like our family who reuse water because there are so many people who don't have water and have to wait for trucks that come 1 or 2 times a week to deliver water because it is impossible for them to turn on the faucet and have it as it should be.” Another fan said, “Drought or no drought, that's a waste of water. Pretty sure there's other "Summer Themes" they could do.”
One fan said, “I think that this issue is worth mentioning. Water scarcity is a serious problem that the whole world is facing..it is human essential. I actually think that we should refrain it from using it carelessly specially for entertaining purpose.” One fan said, “For an evening concert this seems wasteful. But for a summer daytime concert (what's the Hottest time of the day in Korea?) this might be a healthy thing to do.” Another fan said, “I completely get where criticism is coming from but, also feel for a packed crowd to go to a concert in the hot summer there would most likely be complaints of lack of water to keep fans hydrated. Maybe since there is a drought, release confetti or fireworks instead. I would say shirts but I'm forever haunted by that Simpsons episode.”
