Asia News: Hybe Shows To Use Facial ID, Korean TV Stations Cancel NYE Broadcasts, Diljit Dosanjh Sits With Prime Minister

SOUTH KOREA

Hybe To Adopt Facial ID At Concerts

Starting this year, Hybe, one of Korea’s biggest entertainment companies, will implement facial recognition technology for all concerts that the company organizes. The system is called Face Pass and will debut at a fan meeting for the K-pop group TWS in February, according to various Korean media. The stated purpose of the new technology is to “streamline the venue entry process,” but most media are saying that it aligns with a number of earlier moves to combat ticket scalping.

The Korea JoongAng Daily reports that ticket buyers can scan their faces and upload the data to a server operated by the digital wallet app Toss prior to the event. Then when they enter the venue they have their faces scanned at the gate. There is no need for a physical or even electronic ticket.

Biometric ticketing systems have already been implemented on a limited basis overseas, but Hybe’s is the first to be used in Korea for event access control.

The technology authenticates a ticketholder’s identity through facial recognition, which, in addition to making it difficult for resold tickets to be used, should reduce entry time and improve security. Also, Hybe has been transparent about its use of facial recognition whereas some other promoters have not.

The announcement has not been met with universal approval. Some members of the K-pop industry have reservations, saying there could be issues with data privacy and the collection of biometric information. Outside of Korea, some musicians have actively opposed the use of facial recognition due to civil liberties concerns. Some fans have questioned the security of their data.

Toss has said that the “saved face data will be encrypted and safely stored at a separate Toss server.” In addition, fans can “withdraw” from the Face Pass agreement at any time and remove the saved biometric data, according to JoongAng. Legally, the data cannot be used for any other purpose than that agreed to by the user.

NYE Celebrations Muted In Mourning

Following the crash of a Jeju Air flight at Korea’s Muan International Airport that killed 179 people in late December, concerts and other events, including New Year’s countdowns, were canceled in line with the government decision to proclaim a period of national mourning, according to the Korea Times. Many K-pop artists had already recorded performances for televised New Year celebrations, but stations decided to cancel their broadcast. Some aired non-New Year’s Eve-specific recordings after the mourning period ended on Jan. 4.

However, this proscription did not extend to K-pop artists who are performing overseas during the mourning period. Four K-pop groups were featured on Japan’s Kohaku Uta Gassen, a traditional New Year’s Eve song battle that is considered the most important pop music event of the year in Japan, which is produced by NHK, Japan’s public broadcaster. Though all of the groups involved released a statement expressing condolences for the people who lost their lives, no mention of the tragedy was made by the artists during the NHK broadcast.

INDIA

Diljit Dosanjh Talks Tour With PM

The superstar Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh concluded his sold-out tour of India on December 31 and the next day had a private meeting with the country’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, in New Delhi.

According to Wionews, Modi asked Dosanjh about performing all over the world at music festivals. Donsanjh was the first-ever Indian artist to perform at Coachella in 2023. He replied that international music festivals were very large and that India, given its resources and fan base, could create the biggest music festival in the world if it put its mind to it. “People travel from all over the world for such festivals,” he said.

Reportedly, Modi said that the idea of such a festival had occurred to him, and given that India has one of the biggest cinema production industries in the world, and that most of the movies produced are musicals, India should promote itself as a creative center.

The conversation was covered extensively by Indian media mainly because Dosanjh’s tour drew so much attention, not only for the crowds but for controversial public statements the singer made from the stage, mainly complaining about the state of India’s concert industry. He also received criticism because it is believed one of his songs promotes the consumption of alcohol.

MALAYSIA

Concert Approvals On Hold After NYE Deaths

Following four drug-related deaths at the Pinkfish Countdown 2024 concert on New Year’s Eve in Selangor state, Malaysia, police have suspended all permit approvals for concerts, according to The Star. The chief of police told reporters, “We will look at concert approvals on a case-by-case basis, with security control a main requirement.”

Police said that the four who died, along with three people who survived, fell unconscious shortly before receiving treatment. It is believed the drug that the seven people consumed was ecstasy. The police are not sure if the drugs were purchased before the concert or at the concert site.

Pinkfish management promised to cooperate with the police in any way they could, adding that the safety of patrons is their highest priority.