K-pop boy band Cortis began their global concert tour in the South Korean city of Incheon on 18 July with a recurring message urging attendees to set aside their phones during performances. The refrain, which also serves as the official title of their tour, reflects a broader philosophy the band has promoted: that concert-goers should experience performances directly rather than through mobile device screens. The tour will visit major cities including New York and Los Angeles before returning to Seoul later this month.
The band’s anti-phone message generated conflicting responses from their fanbase. Some attendees complied with the call, reporting positive experiences of communal dancing and engagement. However, other fans found the repeated requests frustrating, particularly given the substantial financial investment required to attend concerts. Park Ji-yeon, a 22-year-old attendee, explained that she purchased a high-end smartphone specifically to film the performances at the highest quality possible, feeling the need to capture memories she might not experience again. She noted that fans who spent significant sums on tickets and related expenses felt increasingly bothered by the persistent messaging.
Cortis, which debuted last year under BigHit Music—the company behind BTS—appears to have adjusted their approach after the first day of performances. According to attendee accounts, the band’s message shifted from a direct instruction to put phones away toward a more collaborative framing that acknowledged fans’ desire to record while still encouraging in-person engagement. The reframing emphasized enjoying the concert together as a shared mindset rather than issuing categorical directives.
The band’s anti-phone stance aligns with a growing movement among global artists advocating reduced phone use at concerts. Artists including Phoebe Bridgers and Alicia Keys have implemented physical restrictions through sealed phone pouches, while performers like Billie Eilish and BTS members have issued similar verbal appeals. However, the directive carries particular significance in K-pop culture, where fan-recorded videos, particularly close-up fancams, constitute a central form of community engagement and cultural exchange within fan networks.
Cortis takes its name from the phrase “colour outside the lines,” a concept meant to represent the band’s refusal to conform to conventional expectations. The five-member group, with members ranging in age from their teens to 20 years old, has achieved rapid success, with music videos garnering millions of views and recent performances at major festivals including Lollapalooza in Chicago.
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