Cortis urges fans to put phones down during global tour

South Korean boy band Cortis launched its "Put Your Phone Down" world tour in Incheon on 18 July, urging concert‑goers to stop recording on their smartphones and engage with the live performance. The slogan also serves as the official name of the tour, which will travel to New York, Los Angeles and return to Seoul later this month.

Fans responded in two ways. Some, like 22‑year‑old Park Ji‑yeon, rented a flagship phone and spent over a million won to capture high‑quality footage, saying the moment might never return. Others, such as 25‑year‑old Kim Ga‑eun, embraced the message, enjoying the show without screens. The band, signed to BigHit Music (HYBE), has highlighted the tension between K‑pop’s “fancam” culture—where fan‑recorded videos act as social currency—and its push for a more present concert experience.