PSY faces controversy ahead of his summer concert.

South Korean rapper PSY has apologized after his planned performance in Gwangju drew backlash from local football fans.

According to Star News Korea on May 29th, P Nation, PSY's management company, has announced its Summer Swag 2026 schedule with numerous performances across South Korea. This schedule includes a concert on August 8th at the Gwangju World Cup Stadium, the home ground of Gwangju FC, a K League 1 club.

Immediately after the announcement, many Gwangju FC fans expressed their opposition on social media and football forums. They worried that holding a large-scale music festival could affect the quality of the pitch while the K League season was still underway.

According to South Korean media, Gwangju FC is scheduled to play home games in August. Therefore, many fans believe that the pitch should be prioritized for matches rather than entertainment events. Some also recalled instances where stadiums in South Korea have deteriorated after large-scale music concerts.

Controversy quickly spread as fans questioned whether the venue had actually been approved for the concert.

The hit song Gangnam Style made PSY's name widely known to audiences both inside and outside of South Korea.

Photo: AP

Gwangju FC denies renting out the stadium.

Following the backlash from fans, Gwangju FC has released an official statement.

According to Star News Korea , the team has stated that they have not approved the use of the Gwangju World Cup Stadium for the Summer swag 2026 program. The club said that ensuring playing conditions and maintaining the quality of the pitch is their top priority during the current season.

This announcement came as a surprise to many because the location had already appeared in the official schedule previously released by P Nation.

The incident quickly became a hot topic on South Korean news portals and social media. While some netizens criticized the announcement of the concert schedule before completing the necessary procedures, many others argued that PSY shouldn't be entirely blamed, as artists typically don't directly handle issues related to the venue.

PSY issues an apology.

Following the wave of controversy, PSY issued an apology. According to the Maeil Business Newspaper , the rapper stated that the local organizing unit had informed P Nation that the rental of the Gwangju World Cup Stadium had been approved. Based on this information, the company included the venue in the Summer Swag 2026 schedule.

PSY wrote on his personal Instagram page: "We were informed that the venue use had been approved before announcing the schedule. However, after double-checking, this information is incorrect."

PSY apologizes after controversy surrounding concert venue in Gwangju.

Photo: AP

The Gangnam Style singer also apologized to football fans and the people of Gwangju for the controversy arising from the incident. "I sincerely apologize for causing worry and disappointment to many people," the artist shared.

According to Maeil Business Newspaper , PSY said his team is actively working with relevant parties to find an alternative venue in Gwangju so that the concert can still take place as planned.

Summer Swag is a popular annual summer concert series organized by PSY, known for its large scale and performances incorporating signature water effects. The show typically attracts tens of thousands of attendees at each stop and is considered one of the most successful concert franchises in South Korea.

However, the Gwangju incident highlights the sensitive issue of holding large-scale entertainment events in stadiums currently used for sporting events. In recent years, similar controversies have erupted in South Korea as football clubs have expressed concerns about the impact of large concerts on the pitch.

P Nation has not yet announced a replacement venue for the Gwangju concert. However, according to South Korean media, the company is coordinating with local authorities and relevant agencies to come up with a new plan soon.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/psy-vuong-tranh-cai-truc-them-concert-mua-he-185260530141934459.htm