As with the previous news STAND has posted, Dream Concert 2010 started off with an uproar when SNSD fans decided to make a “project” of acquiring seats which have already been designated to another artist. The previous article you can read HERE
A lot of reactions from internationals have come out regarding the actions of Sones, mostly against SNSD and its fan base. Sones tried to do damage control by giving out statements such as this one:
- Spoiler:
It would have been nice if all KSONEs could sit together but as you can see it is SM’s fault that we are scattered. If SM can arrange to have SONEs get together in 4 lumped sections that would be a good solution.
Some of you making comments about SONEs “complaining”, “being extreme”, where do you see that here? If you’re SONE you should be ashamed of yourselves misjudging K-SONEs like that.
And some people thinking there could be a silent treatment and SNSD being victim again that is just ROFL. SNSD and SONEs are just way too powerful right now with biggest public support. Any club attempting act like that would get public lynching in Korea. And you have no idea what is going on in Korea right now about this incident… No one’s really against SONEs in Korea since they understand the real situation. But certain other fanclub is getting lot of bashing over this incident… I wrote something to explain it all but decided not to post it… That problem with that fanclub is that they are failing to realize this is a concert for everyone.
It doesn’t matter who sits where. Now that seats are sold out everyone just cheer for all artists together wherever they are, like KSONEs are planning.
Fortunately there are many mature ones from other fanclubs and SONEs slowly working together to resolve this conflict so ultimately I believe everything will be ok before the concert”
This is all taken from the mouth of an international Sone who “claims” to have connections in the k-pop world.
According to the quote above, NO ONE is against Korean Sones but EVERYONE is bashing Korean E.L.F. about this incident. How reliable is this information? How reliable is this international Sone?
We here at STAND gather facts and evidences; present it with real sources; and then after everything has been collected, that is the only time we give our views regarding the matter at hand… and not just base everything on hearsay
This is the official seating chart as released by Dream Concert organizers days prior to ticket sales. As with the past couple of years, Dream Concert seats were divided into sections of fandoms, not because they should only cheer for their own idols, but for each fandom to show a united front in cheering for their respective idols and other artists as well.
But for SNSD fans, this is not the case...
Summary:
Originally, 2 blocks were given to Sones (section A and B). Because of that, SNSD’s fanclub clamored for more seating which prompted organizers to give them section C which had originally been a free seating section. However, the notice arrived late and only a handful of Sones got hold of the information. By the time most of them found out, all three sections have already been sold out but Sections G-P were still open. SM Entertainment was also the one who handed out the notices.
Even after concert organizers gave Sones an additional seating section, blocks L,M,N,P (which were designated for Super Junior fans) were also coveted by Sones and the ensuing chaos rattled both Korean and international ELF.
Go Sone!
Dream Concert, May 22, 7PM
March forward!
Ticket Project
1. For those who are hesitating to attend the Dream Concert
Right now is Girls Generation, N.O.W.
ABC section is our main seats, do not cancel!
2. For those who have bought tickets for sections ABC and LMNP
Do not refund! Gee
The turnout in 2009 will be more than 2010 and again in 2011
… Do not hesitate. Do it at once.
Our girls!
We’ll protect you!
You are worth it!
Proud of SNSD, proud to be Sone
And we thought it was just THIS banner that went around…
More curious is the post in SNSD’s SM Entertainment website hours before ticket sales started. An SNSD management representative mentioned that this year’s concert’s seating arrangement is just an “example and is not required for fan clubs to be divided into sections”.
So what makes this year’s Dream Concert different?
What makes Sones so special that they get an additional section C and have section L-P open to them as well?
Why go through all the trouble of creating a ticketing project and scatter banners all throughout the net even after SM Entertainment and Dream Concert organizers have supposedly already added an extra box (Box C) for them?
And why would SME suddenly appease Sones by defending their actions in coveting section L,M,N,P while leaving ELF out in the dust?
For the past 2 years, ELF have been given seats in the 3rd floor to compensate for the sheer magnitude of fans coming in to support Super Junior.
In the heat of the seating discussion, Super Junior leader, Leeteuk, posted this message in his minihompy a day after the DC tickets were sold:
2010.04.23 Friday 23:27
..A mosquito sat on a tiger\'s back and sucked his blood..
..The mosquito felt good because he had conquered the tiger..
..But the tiger didn\'t even care..
..Isn\'t this the difference between a master and an amateur?..
..Don\'t react to the little things..
Source: Jungsoo\'s cyworld
Translation
Perhaps feeling guilty of the situation, Sones thought it was an attack by Suju’s leader regarding the issue and was pointed at them. They reacted by attacking his homepage and even tried to hack into it. An image of Leeteuk killing a mosquito named ELF also went around Daum and Naver as Sone’s retaliation to his post.
The message basically puts Eeteuk as an “ELF Killer” and how his “mosquito” remarks will cause Suju’s and ELF’s downfall.
Leeteuk’s response was closing down his homepage and posting this on the sidebar:
..We live in a world where someone can easily become an idiot..^^
..I might denounce the ones who are spreading false informations..
Please, do control yourself..If it was in relation I wouldn\'t have done all this....
It\'s always possible to interpret by ourself an event but it shouldn\'t become a witch-hunt..
All this will only bring up a family fight..
I wish everyone to become a bit wiser..
Credits to Jungsoo\'s cyworld
Translation
Sones have been on the defense regarding this situation saying it was SM Entertainment who have put them on a shortlist (by giving them only 2+1 blocks) and that it was also SM Entertainment who gave them the go signal to book seats in the LMNP sections.
So what is ELF’s reaction to the entire situation?
Summary:
Basically, ELF does not think highly of Sones right now because of what happened, with such a young fandom, taking action like this without thinking.
They mention that for the last 3 years, ELF has been consistent with an attendance of 7000-8000 members and as such has always been assigned seats on the 3rd floor section.
However, SM suddenly gives ELF less seats in the 3rd floor seating with any dialogue or consultation.
They also mention the claim of Sones regarding the last minute change to be not credible. Sones insist the reason why they took seats in the G-P section is because of the last minute notice by SM Entertainment regarding adding block C seating. It contradicts the statement of setting section LMNP as free seating.
Why would there be a need for SM Entertainment to add the C block to Sones when LMNP section is “supposedly” open seat area in the first place?
Could it be because SM Entertainment\'s big money makers (Suju and DBSK) are now experiencing fan withdrawals? With DBSK\'s disbandment and Hankyung leaving Suju, fans of both groups have begun questioning SM Entertainment. And given the choice, would SM Entertainment pick ELF over Sone?
Cassies and ELF have never lost faith in their idols. Its a different story when speaking of SM Entertainment, as most of us have already lost faith in their management a long time ago.
Given the recent fiasco, ELF has never wavered in their support of Suju. Their response to Sone\'s taking their seats?
[ELF]: For every action, there are consequences
This all started when Sones claimed that SNSD is now the BIGGEST group in South Korea with a fanbase GREATER than that of Super Junior. How delusional can a fandom be? For a fanbase who only recently acquired their fandom name and had just recently celebrated their \'1000 days\', to go against the fanbase of their idol\'s sunbae, isn\'t that telling something?
Deadline for ticketing has already passed and tickets are sold out...
I heard that 90% of ELF are girls ..... our fandom are mostly boys and more superior than you..... the time has come for you fan girls.... ke ke ke ke
This is probably the first time that an SNSD member has taken note of how violent their fans actually are. Now if only they would actually take note and listen.
Sone (YoonaJessica <3) : Are you ready for Sones to run out on the field? Ke ke thousands of Sones
Yoona: I hope there won’t be any fights between families <3
International fandoms are now worrying as to how Dream Concert 2010 will take place especially with this ongoing fanwar.
According to the claim of Sones, Korean Sones don\'t really care where they sit, since they will be cheering for everyone anyway. If that is the case, why claim LMNP section of ELF? Why not sit at the free seating section provided near the field section?
It is also claimed that Korean Sones are fixing the situation. Why fix something if nothing was done wrong in the first place?
SM Entertainment has been put to blame as Sones say it was the management who caused this confusion. How confusing is the seat plan posted at the Dream Concert website posted prior to the selling of tickets? If it wasn\'t color coded as blue, it was labeled as 슈주.
Section/Block C was already added to compensate for Sone\'s request. When that was given, why reserve at a different section? Banners and notices took planning, designing, and effort. Sones actions were obviously calculated and planned.
Discussions are still ongoing in different Korean fansites. So it is still an active issue.
However...
Tickets have already been sold and seats have already been reserved. Right now, all we can do is hope that everyone will stay sane, be safe and cheer for those artists who actually deserve to be cheered at.
SOURCES:
Daum
Naver
Daum
Tistory
A/N: TBH, I\'m not that confident with the translations. For any inconsistencies, feel free to PM me :D
Last edited by queenbee on Sun 02 May 2010, 7:55 am; edited 1 time in total