IVE’s College Show Stirs Controversy, Students Demand Idol Ban

Incheon University sparked controversy after idol group IVE’s performance at the school’s festival held on May 7 to 9, making it the center of a heated debate.

According to reports, the criticism was not aimed at the idols themselves, but rather at their fans.

The festival’s lineup featured renowned performers such as IVE, High Key, Shin-ae Ahn, and Cravity, attracting a varied audience throughout the three-day event.

The source can be found at https://news.nate.com/view/20240509n06084.

Despite the celebratory atmosphere, the controversy surrounding security measures and fan behavior took center stage.

Despite clear warnings issued by the university, fans were spotted with long-lens cameras, disregarding the school’s regulations and causing frustration among the student body, specifically those at Incheon University.

The source of the following information can be found at https://news.nate.com/view/20240509n06084.

To uphold order, the university had prohibited the use of cannon cameras at the event, resulting in a string of confrontations. Online videos emerged of a female staff member continuously reminding attendees to refrain from using their cameras and warning of possible expulsion for those who did not comply.

As the festival continued, individuals who were not students at the university, known as IVE fans, began using online platforms to voice their discontent with the strict policies in place.

Included in the translations of the posts are some of the comments:

Are students stupid? The tuition that your parents worked so hard to earn is paid for in 10 minutes by an idol and singer? Give me back the scholarship with that money. There will be a lot of noise this year. I hope there will be no such expensive performances. Universities should take care of their concepts. If they invite a famous singer, their recognition will increase and they will be accepted to Seoul National University? The money my parents saved for 5 years without using or eating = half a day for them.
If you’re going to sing an idol at a festival, get students’ consent. If you’re going to sing an idol, reduce the tuition once it’s confirmed.
Ah, they are often called ‘photographers’, but people who bring cannon cameras and take pictures don’t really care about other people and are only focused on taking pictures of themselves. Even if you tell them not to take pictures, they don’t listen and they don’t care whether people around them can see it or not.

Despite the prior warnings issued by the organizers, fans of IVE took to the internet to express their dissatisfaction, citing the challenges they encountered while attempting to film the performance. Photos shared online showed multiple cameras in use, further emphasizing the fans’ frustrations.

The backlash following IVE’s performance has prompted discussions about whether to invite idols to upcoming college festivals, as students are advocating for a prohibition on their participation. This controversy highlights the importance of maintaining a harmonious relationship between entertainment and adhering to the guidelines set by educational institutions.

As conversations about the incident persist, it is uncertain how universities and idol groups will handle similar situations in the future.