Kanye West’s South Korea show canceled after $20 million contract loss in Japan

Key Points

• Coupang canceled Kanye West’s May 31 concert in South Korea amid backlash over his controversial “Heil Hitler” song, issuing full refunds to ticket holders.
• Kanye’s February Tokyo Dome show was canceled after a Grammy stunt offended Japanese promoters, reflecting cultural concerns and escalating controversies.
• Adidas ended its Yeezy partnership in 2022, completing $1.52 billion in remaining inventory sales despite ongoing public disputes with Kanye West.

Kanye West has seen another international concert fall through. Following the cancellation of a $20 million show at the Tokyo Dome in Japan, a planned performance in South Korea has also been called off due to renewed backlash over his behavior and public statements.

Coupang pulls Yeezy concert, refunds fans

Coupang, the South Korean e-commerce giant behind the event, confirmed on Monday that the concert, scheduled for May 31 in Incheon, was canceled “due to recent controversies involving the artist.” The company, along with ticket vendor Interpark, said all ticket holders would be fully refunded. They also announced the suspension of Yeezy merchandise sales on Coupang’s streaming platform, Coupang Play, which was organizing the event.

The decision comes just weeks after Ye released a song titled Heil Hitler, which has drawn widespread condemnation for praising Adolf Hitler, the Nazi leader responsible for the Holocaust. Although Coupang and Interpark didn’t directly mention the song, it’s widely believed to be the main reason for the concert’s cancellation.

Ye’s plans face multiple controversies

This is not the first time this year, Ye’s plans have unraveled due to controversy. Back in February, he lost a lucrative $20 million deal to perform in Japan following an incident at the 2025 Grammy Awards. His wife, Bianca Censori, caused a stir when she removed a black fur coat onstage to reveal a sheer mini dress, an act many considered a stunt aimed at drawing attention to his Yeezy fashion brand.

The moment didn’t sit well with Japanese concert promoters. Known for their more conservative cultural values, they quickly pulled the plug on the Tokyo Dome concert, citing concerns that Ye’s behavior would offend local audiences. “Kanye is burning every bridge,” said one source familiar with the negotiations. “The Japanese saw this as disrespectful and out of line with their cultural expectations.”

Adidas wraps up Yeezy sales

Ye’s long list of controversies has taken a serious toll on his business empire. In 2022, Adidas ended its partnership with him following anti-Semitic remarks, wiping roughly $1.6 billion off his estimated net worth. Earlier this year, the German sportswear company said it had completed the sale of its remaining Yeezy inventory, earning about $1.52 billion in revenue from Yeezy products sold across 2023 and 2024.

Even after settling legal disputes with Adidas, Ye resumed his attacks. In March, he accused the company of stealing designs and manipulating Google search results to direct traffic away from his own Yeezy store—claims he made in a now-deleted Instagram post. The public rant came shortly after Adidas CEO Bjørn Gulden had suggested the feud was over, telling reporters, “Whatever was is history,” and noting there was no money exchanged in the final agreement.