Cortis (CORTIS), a rookie group, was plunged into a serious quality-of-performance controversy right after its first large-scale solo concert. It opened in grand fashion amid high expectations from global fans, but it has drawn backlash for a flimsy overall setup.
“Filling 100 Minutes With 12 Songs”… A gimmick setlist that repeats the same song 5 times
Cortis held its first world tour, “2026 CORTIS TOUR 〈PUT YOUR PHONE DOWN〉 IN INCHEON,” at Inspire Arena in Incheon’s Yeongjongdo on the 18th. As its first solo concert after debut, it posted a full sellout of all seats and demonstrated strong ticket power.
However, immediately after the show, online communities and social media were flooded with disappointed reviews. The biggest problem was the lackluster setlist. Including the encore, the total running time was just 1 hour and 40 minutes, and complaints followed that the overall finish—song placement, performances, and more—failed to meet expectations.
Cortis, which debuted in August last year, has a total of 12 official release songs. Compared with concerts by established artists, which usually feature around 20 songs, that number falls far short. Normally, rookie groups fill gaps with cover stages or unreleased new tracks, but Cortis’ side took a different approach.
It was what’s known as a “song-repetition” method—repeating previously released songs. The representative track “YCC” was performed no fewer than 5 times, and the album track “REDRED” appeared on stage 4 times. Other songs were also repeatedly slotted, making it difficult to avoid criticism that the group essentially “bought time” with just 12 songs.
High-priced tickets in the 100,000-won range and long-distance travel… Fans say, “It’s heartbreaking”
The flimsy lineup, paired with the high ticket price of 143,000 won, intensified fans’ sense of betrayal. The price is on par with general admission tickets for concerts by artists under major entertainment agencies. Fans said they expected a tightly crafted performance after paying a high cost, but the result was disappointing.
The geographic downside of Yeongjongdo in Incheon—outside the metropolitan area—also added to the dissatisfaction. Fans from across the country had to endure hours of round-trip travel and wait time to purchase merchandise. Audience members say the time they spent on the ground was longer than the time they got to watch the artist, and they can’t hide their sense of emptiness.
A first solo tour is an important stage where an artist proves its skills and strengthens fan unity. All eyes are on whether Cortis, which faced painful controversy right from the start, can win back turned-off fan sentiments in the remaining tour schedule. This concert continues on the 19th at the same location, and afterward it will run for 14 shows across nine regions worldwide, including North America and Japan.
