In a partnership with JYP Entertainment (JYP), the charity installed the technology at WONPIL’s (member of the band DAY6) solo concert ‘Unpiltered’ at the Jamsil Indoor Stadium from the 1st - 3rd May.
K-pop concerts are renowned for their high-energy band sounds and the passionate cheers of thousands of fans. However, for individuals with hearing loss, deciphering sound in such a complex and noisy environment is an immense drain on mental energy and detracts from their enjoyment of the music.
User-tested
The installation was a pilot project using two of Ampetronic’s AURI transmitters. Over the three shows, a total of 16 fans with severe hearing loss were invited to attend and test the assistive listening system. Primarily cochlear implant users, they were given compatible neckloop receivers while non-hearing-impaired staff/participants used standard headsets to monitor and experience the audio.
“Because large-scale K-Pop concerts have traditionally been a "dead zone" for fans with hearing loss due to extreme crowd noise and reverberation, we wanted to test the Auracast system with those who face the most significant acoustic barriers throughout the two and a half hour concerts,”
said Hearcycle CEO, Seung-ho Woo.
“For cochlear implant users, discerning a singer’s voice through compressed frequencies in a loud, echoing environment is one of the most difficult technical challenges. Nevertheless, this system built deep user trust.”
According to a follow-up survey conducted by HearCycle, 64% of participants experienced their very first K-pop concert through this pilot project. While some had previously attended classical music venues or sports stadiums, they had rarely experienced K-pop concerts due to listening barriers.
One fan commented;
One fan commented; “I have visited many venues after my cochlear implant surgery, but I always felt alienated. At this concert, however, I could hear the artist’s voice clearly for the first time and laugh at the exact same time as everyone else. It felt like an unforgettable Christmas gift in the middle of spring.”
Building on success
As a direct result of the successful test event at the Jamsil Indoor Stadium, Hearcycle is now preparing to implement the system at another K-Pop concert at the KBS Arena in Seoul.
“We are in active discussions with other K-Pop agencies,”
added Seung-ho Woo,
“and we are planning an even larger-scale project with JYP Entertainment at a bigger venue in July 2026.”
“Our strategy with these high-profile temporary tests is to prove the immense value of "user confidence" and accessibility. By showing such successful results, we aim to build a strong case and ultimately influence venues and entertainment agencies to adopt these assistive listening systems permanently in the future.”
