K-pop fans in Hong Kong and across Asia have been met with unexpected news as the highly anticipated “Dream Concert World Tour 2026” in Hong Kong has been officially cancelled until further notice.
Originally scheduled to take place over two days from February 6 to February 7, the event was intended to be a massive celebration of Korean music and culture.
The cancellation comes just a week before the event was set to begin, leaving many fans who had already purchased tickets and made travel arrangements in a state of shock and disappointment.
The Hong Kong stop was particularly significant because it was slated to be the first official overseas stop of the iconic “Dream Concert” series, which has a long and storied history in South Korea.
Also, it was meant to serve as the grand kickoff for an ambitious “Dream Concert World Tour,” intended to bring the festival’s unique energy to various cities around the globe.
The event was set to be held at the impressive Kai Tak Stadium, a venue capable of hosting the large-scale production and massive crowds typically associated with the Dream Concert brand.
Internal Conflicts and Unresolved Issues
According to industry reports, the primary reason for the sudden cancellation stems from ongoing internal conflicts between the local event organizers in Hong Kong and the Korea Entertainment Producer’s Association (KEPA), the organization responsible for managing the “Dream Concert World Tour 2026.”
While specific details regarding the nature of the dispute have not been fully disclosed, it appears that the disagreements were significant enough to prevent the event from proceeding as planned.
The timing of the announcement is particularly unfortunate, as the festival had already secured a star-studded lineup of headliners.
The roster featured some of the biggest names in the industry, including EXO-CBX, Taemin, The Boyz, Hwa Sa, and BamBam, among others.
The promise of seeing these top-tier artists share a single stage had made the Hong Kong event one of the most talked-about K-pop festivals of the year.
With the cancellation, it remains unclear whether these artists will be rebooked for a future date or if their participation was strictly tied to the now-void February schedule.
Uncertainty Surrounding Future Dates and Ticketing
As of now, there is no official confirmation on whether “Dream Concert 2026 in Hong Kong” will be rescheduled for a later date.
The use of the phrase “until further notice” suggests a level of indefinite suspension, leaving the fate of the Hong Kong leg of the world tour hanging in the balance.
Fans are currently awaiting further instructions regarding ticket refunds and any potential updates on a new timeline for the event.
The cancellation of the Hong Kong stop also raises questions about the remainder of the “Dream Concert World Tour.”
As the first stop of the tour, its failure to launch could potentially impact the logistics and planning for subsequent international locations.
For now, the focus remains on resolving the administrative and organizational issues that led to this setback.
The K-pop community continues to monitor the situation closely, hoping that the issues between KEPA and local partners can be resolved so that the historic festival can eventually make its way to international audiences as originally envisioned.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the complex logistical and professional challenges involved in producing large-scale international music festivals in the post-pandemic era.
Starship Entertainment has officially released a comprehensive statement following the Supreme Court of South Korea’s final ruling against the notorious operator of the YouTube channel “Sojang.”
On January 29, 2026, the highest court in the land upheld the lower court’s decision, effectively ending a long and arduous legal battle that has been closely watched by the global K-pop community.
The defendant, a woman identified as Park, was found guilty of multiple charges, including defamation and insult under the Information and Communications Network Act.
The Supreme Court finalized a sentence of two years in prison, suspended for three years.
Additionally, the court upheld a significant financial penalty, ordering the forfeiture of 210 million won (approximately $145,780) and 120 hours of mandatory community service.
This ruling marks a watershed moment in the South Korean judiciary’s approach to digital harassment and the accountability of content creators who profit from the destruction of public reputations.
The Pattern of Malice: Targeting Jang Won Young and Others
The legal proceedings revealed a systematic pattern of harassment orchestrated by Park between October 2021 and June 2023. During this period, the “Sojang” channel posted 23 defamatory videos that maliciously targeted seven public figures.
Among the primary victims was IVE’s Jang Won Young, who became the center of numerous fabricated scandals and personal attacks designed to incite public vitriol.
Starship Entertainment’s statement highlighted a critical legal principle reinforced by this case: the court determined that even when unverified claims are framed as “speculation” or “allegations,” they constitute the dissemination of false information if the context leads the audience to perceive them as facts.
This sets a vital precedent, closing a loophole often exploited by “cyber wreckers” who use vague language to shield themselves from libel laws while intentionally causing maximum reputational damage.
A Zero-Tolerance Policy Against “Cyber Wreckers”
In the wake of the ruling, Starship Entertainment reaffirmed its uncompromising stance on artist protection.
The agency emphasized that the honor and personal rights of celebrities are entitled to the same legal protections as any other citizen.
By pursuing both civil and criminal litigation without the possibility of settlement or leniency, Starship has signaled that the era of “clickbait” defamation without consequence is coming to an end.
The agency specifically targeted the “cyber wrecker” culture—a term used in Korea to describe YouTubers who profit from spreading rumors and fake news.
Starship stated they would continue to leverage every legal tool available to combat those who exploit anonymity to incite cyberbullying.
They committed to thorough, ongoing monitoring of digital platforms to ensure that such malicious activities are identified and prosecuted swiftly, preventing future harm to their artists.
Gratitude to the Fandom and Future Outlook
Starship Entertainment concluded its statement by expressing deep gratitude to the fans.
The agency acknowledged that the successful prosecution of Park was made possible through the unwavering support, tips, and evidence provided by the public and dedicated fans of IVE.
This collective effort was instrumental in building a robust case against the operator of “Sojang.”
Moving forward, the agency pledged to continue its efforts in fostering a healthy online culture.
This victory is not just a win for Starship and Jang Won Young, but a significant step toward creating a safer digital environment for all entertainers.
By holding malicious creators accountable to the fullest extent of the law, the industry hopes to deter future bad actors and ensure that the focus remains on the talent and hard work of the artists rather than manufactured controversy.
