4,000 people without masks to attend the BTS nominated Brit Awards

▲ This photo taken from The Brit Awards' website shows K-pop global star BTS nominated for the International Group category. (PHOTOS NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, April 23 (Yonhap) -- The Brit Awards, Britain's most prestigious pop music award, where K-pop megastar BTS have also been nominated for the International Group award, will allow a live audience of 4,000 people as part of the government's COVID research.

The live audiences can enjoy performances at the O2 Arena in London on May 11 (KST) without wearing a mask or social distancing themselves.

It is the first large-scale indoor performance in the UK in more than a year since the widespread of COVID-19.

The British government said in a press release on the 22nd that it will hold the Brit Awards as part of an even research program that tests the possibility of large-scale performances during the ongoing pandemic.

However, the audience must present proof of negative test results for coronavirus and will be asked to take a test after the event as well.

The British government will allow 21,000 people for the finals of the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium on May 15th as well as 3,000 people a day at Liverpool nightclubs in late April and early May.

In addition, 2,500 tickets to the Brit Awards will be allocated to frontline workers in London who had to work during the COVID-19 lockdown, and the rest will be given to award nominees and the music industry officials.

BTS was nominated for the International Group category for their hit song, "Dynamite." They will be up against rock band Foo Fighters, a sister trio band HAIM, hip hop duo Run The Jewels, and post-punk band Fontaines D.C.

The Brit Awards, which began in 1977, is an award ceremony organized by the British Recording Industry Association, which boasts the highest authority in music in the UK.

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