Phone Disruptions Ruin Concerts; Korea Debates Signal Blockers
Creatrip Team
3 months ago
At a recent concert in Seoul, a phone’s YouTube audio interrupted pianist Im Yunchan’s performance, highlighting a recurring problem of audience phone noises despite Korea’s generally attentive concert culture (sometimes called 'siche-gwangeuk' — jokingly meaning watching as still as a corpse). Modern smartphones can produce unpredictable sounds from AI features and apps, making simple requests to silence phones less effective. Some venues abroad, like Tokyo’s Suntory Hall, use licensed phone-jamming devices ('휴대전화 억제 장치' — phone suppression devices) but Korea faces legal and safety barriers: past trials of signal blockers were removed over radio-law violations and concerns about blocking emergency alerts and digital services. As a result, Korean concert halls are relying on repeated announcements, staff reminders, and phone-lock pouches used in immersive or phone-free shows. Organizers also stress checking alarm settings, since airplane mode may not stop alarms.
