Visa Trouble

Beast, or B2ST, an up-and-coming vocal group in the K-pop world, was prevented from entering Japan when its members’ work visas were scrutinized by Japanese immigration authorities Aug. 16 and found to be wanting.

The group was to do promotional work in Japan.

Beast’s song, “Fiction,” is featured as the closing credit theme for the John Cusack film, “Shanghai,” and the band was to make a surprise appearance at the movie’s premiere in Tokyo. They were also supposed to do press for their new Japanese album, So Beast.

The six members were put on standby at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport for eight hours after arriving. Eventually they had to board a flight back to Korea, according to media reports.

Beast’s Korean management company, Cube, released a statement saying, “Universal Music is responsible for the distribution of Beast’s music in Japan. We definitely corresponded with them about the schedule and visa matters. We were even informed in advance that there were no problems.”

Universal, apparently, has yet to clarify exactly what the problem was.

Then on Aug. 17, another K-pop group, F. CUZ (pronounced “Focuz”), was held up at the same airport by immigration for four hours. Eventually, the quartet was allowed to enter, but the delay caused the postponement of a meet-greet event with 200 very angry female Japanese fans, according to the tabloid Sankei Sports.

Two weeks ago, three Japanese politicians were refused entry into Korea. They had wanted to visit an island near one that is claimed as territory by both Japan and Korea.