The recent “K-Pop Forever” tribute show at Belfast’s SSE Arena has become the unlikely site of a cultural skirmish. On February 19, a crowd of families and fans gathered for what was billed as an arena-standard celebration of the genre. However, by the interval, a significant number of parents were heading for the exits, claiming the content was “raunchy” and unsuitable for the young children in attendance.
The controversy appears to stem from a misunderstanding of what K-pop actually is. Many parents brought children who are fans of the Netflix animated musical KPop Demon Hunters. They seemingly expected a stage version of the cartoon. Instead, they saw a tribute to the broader industry, featuring the high-energy, sophisticated choreography typical of acts like BTS and BLACKPINK.
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The disagreement highlights a gap in cultural literacy. To a dedicated fan, K-pop is a massive, multi-billion dollar industry aimed primarily at adults. To an unsuspecting parent in Belfast, it was a colourful backdrop to a children’s film.
Caroline McGrath, who attended with her seven-year-old daughter, told the BBC that while they enjoyed themselves, the show was not what they anticipated. “I was not aware that K-pop was a full genre,” she said. “There were some parts that were a little bit raunchy, there were some things that were the K-pop songs that the kids didn’t know.”
Another attendee, Ruairi George O’Connor, was more blunt. He described the performance as “not appropriate for kids at all,” adding that his five-year-old daughter was “bored out of her head” because the songs from the animated film did not appear until the end of the set.
@niamhdonnellyy Honestly do not attend this show if your expecting anything kpop #kpop #ssearena #belfast ♬ original sound – Niamh Donnelly
Promoters stand their ground
Aiken Promotions, the organisers of the tour, remained firm in their defense of the production. In a statement, they noted that the show was designed to represent the “full K-pop genre,” including hits from various global superstars alongside eight songs from the Demon Hunters film.
“While the majority of customers enjoyed the show, we understand that this was not what some expected,” the statement read. “However, we are content that the show delivered this evening was an arena-standard tribute to the entire K-pop genre.”
Some concert-goers agreed with the organisers. Michaela Hutchison, who attended with her six-year-old, saw no issue with the performance. “It’s no different to if you went to a Katy Perry concert, if you went to a Beyoncé concert,” she told the BBC. “Yes, the girls were wearing wee belly tops or wee bras but they had tops over them. Not at one point throughout the whole show did I think: ‘This is inappropriate’.”
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The incident reflects the “growing pains” of a genre that has rapidly moved from a niche interest to a global powerhouse. As K-pop visibility rises, non-fans often approach it through a single entry point—like a Netflix film—and assume the entire industry follows that specific tone.
Industry data shows that the majority of K-pop consumers are over eighteen. The genre covers everything from “bubblegum” pop to dark, mature hip-hop. The Belfast situation serves as a reminder that a genre’s aesthetic—often involving bright colours and polished visuals—does not always equate to a “G” rating.
As the “K-Pop Forever” tour continues, the takeaway for parents seems simple: a quick check of the setlist and a bit of research into the genre might prevent a “horrendous” evening.
@debbieogallagher #ssearena #belfast #kpop #kpopdemonhunters #kpopbelfast ♬ original sound – Debbie
