A K-pop group set to perform in Minnesota and states across the U.S. must reschedule after officials denied their travel visas.
BE:MAX, a five-member group set to perform at the KPop MinneCon in St. Paul on Saturday, discovered their visas were canceled as they prepared to board a plane for Minnesota. In a social media post revealing the “unexpected cancellation,” BE:MAX apologized to fans but did not say why the visas were canceled.
“We also really wanted to meet our fans in person, so we’re really sorry to say hello like this. We are truly sorry that your support and anticipation from afar have resulted in more disappointment,” the group’s social media post read. “We will keep this in mind and work harder to prepare so that the same situation does not repeat again. Although we couldn‘t be with you this time, we will do our best to stand in front of you on a better stage in the near future. We will try harder so that your waiting will not be in vain.”
Refunds for fans who bought tickets to see the group will be processed on Monday.
Andrew Melendres, chief operating officer for the MNKPopConnect group that organized the convention, said the group seemed shaken by the cancellation.
“We got the news yesterday late afternoon, between 4 and 5 o’clock, that unfortunately they were being detained at the airport and are unable to board their flight due to visa challenges and issues,” Melendres said, adding that organizers were not told why officials disqualified BE:MAX from travel.
The U.S. Department of State did not return a request for more information.
“They truly do take a lot of pride in what they do. You can see it in the video if you watch it ... they are at the airport, with their luggage standing there, and they all look like they’re on the verge of tears because they aren’t able to get on that flight,” Melendres said.
