Why was Kanye West's concert in South Korea cancelled? Controversy explained as rapper announces new date

Kanye West, who now goes by Ye, had a concert planned in South Korea for May 31, 2025. It would have taken place at Incheon Munhak Stadium. The concert was called YE LIVE IN KOREA (also known as “BULLY”). However, on May 19, organizers announced the concert was now cancelled due to “recent controversies” around the artist. The main reason given was the backlash over Kanye’s actions and words.

He released a song called “Heil Hitler” on May 8, which led to strong criticism. Streaming platforms removed the track. Labels, fans, and the public called it unacceptable. The Korean concert partners — Coupang Play and Interpark Global — froze ticket sales, stopped merchandise, and decided to cancel the show.

What happened with the cancellation of Kanye West's concert?

The cancellation came less than two weeks before the scheduled date. Coupang Play and Interpark Global said they would give full refunds for tickets and paused sales of Kanye's Yeezy gear. Channel Candy, the local promoter, said they had no prior warning. They said Coupang Play gave them a "unilateral termination notice." Fans found from the Interpark Global website where they wrote,

"We regret to inform you that the 'YE LIVE IN KOREA' concert, originally scheduled for Saturday, May 31, 2025, has been cancelled due to recent controversies involving the artist Kanye West (YE)."

The promoter said they tried to fix the issues and promised to answer questions, but Coupang Play said the decision came from Kanye’s recent actions.

New Kanye West concert date announced

Despite the May cancellation, a new concert date was set. On June 20, Channel Candy said on Instagram that YE LIVE IN KOREA would now happen on July 26 at the same stadium. The statement read,

“Thank you for waiting. We will repay you with an unforgettable moment.”

This update came just a month after the cancellation. Now, Channel Candy is the main organizer, while Coupang Play is no longer involved. Melon Ticket will sell the tickets. There is no word yet on openers or special guests.

What comes next

Fans who got tickets for May 31 have been refunded. The new date is July 26. Now people can buy tickets through Melon Ticket. Channel Candy said they want to give fans “an unforgettable moment.” Coupang Play and Interpark Global have not said anything about the new date. Kanye has not shared new comments about the cancellation or rescheduling.

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Fans may wait to see if the new date goes ahead or if more concerns arise. The July show could be a big moment, or could lead to more controversy. Only time will tell if the new date goes ahead smoothly and if there will be any pushback. For now, the facts are clear: the cancellation was tied to Kanye West's controversy, refunds were given, and a new date is planned.

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