Kanye's South Korea Concert Canceled Amid Ongoing Controversies

Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, will no longer perform at his scheduled concert in South Korea on May 31, 2025, at Incheon Munhak Main Stadium.

The cancellation, announced by Korean ticketing platform Interpark Global, was attributed to "recent controversies" surrounding the artist, though specific details were not disclosed.

"We regret to inform you that the 'YE LIVE IN KOREA' concert, originally scheduled for Saturday, May 31, 2025, has been canceled due to recent controversies involving the artist Kanye West (YE)," Interpark Global stated on its website. "We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this may cause. We kindly ask for your understanding. All purchased tickets will be automatically canceled, and full refunds will be processed sequentially."

Reuters confirmed on May 19 that the event, organized in collaboration with South Korean e-commerce company Coupang, will not proceed.

Coupang and Interpark said all the tickets that had been sold for the single show in Incheon on May 31 would be fully refunded. Coupang, whose streaming service, Coupang Play, was organizing the concert, also suspended the sale of merchandise by West’s Yeezy fashion line on Monday, as reported by NBC.

Ye has been embroiled in multiple controversies recently, including backlash over anti-Semitic and anti-LGBTQ statements made on social media. Earlier this month, he claimed his song "Heil Hitler" was banned from all digital streaming platforms, writing on X, "While Rednecks by Randy Newman remains streamable. They’re literally keeping the n—-s down."

Ye also made headlines for abruptly ending an interview on Piers Morgan’s Uncensored show in early May. During the heated exchange, before walking off, he said, "I’m a gift, bro. Why do all you people in media act like you haven’t played my songs at your weddings, or graduations or at funerals or when your child was born?" He compared himself to iconic figures like John Lennon and Michael Jackson, decrying what he perceives as media hostility.

The rapper was recently spotted in Mallorca, Spain, with his wife, Bianca Censori, and streamers Sneako and Digital Nas.

Ye's history of provocative statements and actions, including his 2022 anti-Semitic remarks that led to severed ties with brands like Adidas, has continued to impact his public appearances and projects.

Billboard contributed to this article.