Less than a year after their debut, CORTIS has become one of K-pop’s fastest-rising rookie groups, earning impressive international achievements and launching their first-ever world tour. However, the opening night of the Put Your Phone Down tour has sparked widespread criticism, with many fans questioning whether the group was pushed onto the concert stage too soon.

On July 18, CORTIS officially kicked off their world tour at Inspire Arena in Incheon, South Korea. The concert marked a major milestone for the five-member group, who debuted only in August 2025. Expectations were high after the group’s rapid rise on global music charts, but the discussion following the show centered less on their performance and more on the overall production.

Before the concert, BigHit Music announced that member Ahn Keonho had suffered fractures in both hands. Although he still participated in the show, he was unable to perform the group’s demanding choreography and instead focused primarily on his vocal parts. Fans praised his determination to appear on stage despite the injury.

The biggest controversy, however, came after the concert ended.

According to concertgoers, the show lasted only around one hour and forty minutes, noticeably shorter than a typical K-pop arena concert. Many attendees were also disappointed that the members left the stage without returning for an encore, despite fans chanting for nearly ten minutes after the main set had ended.

The production itself also faced criticism. CORTIS reportedly wore only one set of stage outfits throughout the entire concert and did not include any cover performances, unreleased songs, solo stages, or unit performances—elements that many rookie groups often use to extend concerts when their official discography is still limited. Considering ticket prices reached 143,000 won (approximately US$100), many fans argued that the experience did not justify the cost.

The setlist became another major talking point.

CORTIS has officially released only 12 songs since debut. Instead of expanding the show with special stages, the group repeated several songs multiple times. “YOUNGCREATORCREW” reportedly appeared five times in different versions, while “REDRED” was performed four times. Other tracks, including “TNT,” “GO,” “Acai,” and “What You Want,” also returned repeatedly throughout the concert, leading some attendees to describe the show as repetitive rather than creative.

Adding to the controversy were accusations surrounding the concert’s atmosphere.

Following the event, discussions spread across Korean online communities claiming that the company had allegedly placed professional dancers among standing-area audiences to create the appearance of an energetic “mosh pit.” While neither CORTIS nor BigHit Music has confirmed these allegations, some attendees claimed the performers left shortly after certain songs ended, fueling speculation that the scenes were intentionally staged for promotional videos and social media clips.

Other fans also criticized the concert’s staging, saying the members interacted almost exclusively with people in the standing section while paying little attention to seated audiences. The tour’s concept, which repeatedly encouraged fans to put their phones away, also divided opinion. Some appreciated the attempt to create a more immersive concert experience, while others felt it restricted their ability to record memories from the group’s first tour.

Despite the backlash, many fans defended the members themselves.

With Keonho unable to dance, the remaining four members performed the demanding choreography with remarkable energy throughout the night, while Keonho continued delivering stable live vocals. Supporters argued that the criticism should be directed toward the company’s planning rather than the artists, emphasizing that the members appeared fully committed from beginning to end.

The mixed reception also highlights the downside of CORTIS’ incredibly rapid success.

Their debut EP Color Outside the Lines entered the Billboard 200 at No. 15, setting one of the highest-charting K-pop rookie debuts ever. Their second mini album, GREENGREEN, climbed into the Top 3, while the group’s Spotify streams have already surpassed 600 million. CORTIS has also been recognized in Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 and is scheduled to perform at Lollapalooza Chicago later this year.

However, the opening concert of Put Your Phone Down has raised an important question: has the company prioritized rapid global expansion over giving the group enough material and experience to headline a world tour?

As CORTIS prepares for upcoming shows in the United States and Japan, expectations will be high. The group has already proven it can generate impressive commercial success and global attention. Their next challenge will be convincing audiences that they can deliver a full-scale concert experience worthy of the remarkable momentum they have built in less than a year.