▲ This photo of Japanese boy group JO1 is provided by LAPONE Entertainment, the group's agency. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)(Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- Japanese boy group JO1 has canceled its Seoul concert scheduled for Sept. 26-27 due to the prolonged "vote-counting center blockade protests" near the venue.

 

LAPONE Entertainment, the group's agency, announced on its official website Monday that the Seoul concerts at the Handball Gymnasium (Ticketlink Live Arena) in Songpa Ward had been canceled.

 

"After comprehensively reviewing the situation around the venue and various operational requirements for the concert, we concluded that it would be extremely difficult to proceed with the performances as planned," the agency said.

 

LAPONE said it had carefully explored various alternatives, including relocating the concerts, to ensure the events could be held safely.

 

"We sincerely apologize to all the fans who have been looking forward to these performances," it said.

 

JO1, a Japan-based group created by CJ ENM, had been scheduled to meet its Korean fans through the concerts.

 

The K-pop industry has recently seen a series of concert cancellations and venue changes as the "vote-counting center blockade protests" near the Handball Gymnasium have continued for an extended period.

 

The demonstrations have persisted since a shortage of ballots occurred during the nationwide local elections held on June 3.

 

As a result, singer Park Seo-jin's concert scheduled for last month was canceled, while concerts by TVXQ's U-Know Yunho and band N.Flying were relocated to Jamsil Indoor Stadium.

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