K-Pop Group CORTIS Criticized for 'Lackluster' Dance Performances

“I’m not trying to intentionally criticize CORTIS (코르티스); I’m a fan, and I’m not writing this to bash them. I genuinely became a fan because I loved CORTIS’s dancing. Their choreography was always incredibly good—cool, sharp, and powerful. That’s why I used to rewatch their dance practice videos constantly and even replay their music show stages. However, at their recent concert and Lollapalooza, it felt like they weren’t taking their dancing seriously at all. Honestly, I’ve always believed CORTIS’s popularity stemmed from their hip-hop-infused songs paired with cool and charismatic choreography. I know they aim for an overseas artist style, and I understand that positioning, but they still need to dance, right?”

“Other idols, whether at Lollapalooza or their own concerts, perform their full choreography while singing live. But CORTIS acts more like a rap artist, mostly just nodding, hyping the crowd, interjecting shouts, and swaying casually. To be honest, I can’t even recall a single song from their recent concert where they performed the choreography completely from start to finish. Even if CORTIS wants to pursue a more ‘artist’ route, they should still find a balance. After all, they are fundamentally K-pop idols.”

Below are translated comments from Korean netizens

1. They’ve got “artist disease.” I know they’re handsome and have that Gen Z vibe, but honestly, they’re trying too hard to be cool.
2. They remind me a bit of BIGBANG.
3. It depends on the song. BIGBANG didn’t dance to every song; they improvised more with natural songs. For tracks like “LALALA” and “Lies,” they danced very seriously. But CORTIS’s core is group choreography, so it’s strange if they don’t dance.