Accident Kills 16 South Koreans In K-Pop Concert Featuring Psy's 'Gangnam Style' Dancer Hyuna Of 4Minute

By Conan Santiago Oct 21, 2014 02:29 AM EDT

An accident during a K-Pop concert in Seongnam, South Korea killed 16 people from the audience, YTN television and Yonhap news agency reported as cited by Today Online.

Officials said the number of deaths could rise because more were seriously injured.

About 700 people had gathered to watch the open-air pop concert near a shopping mall, which was part of the Pangyo Techno Valley Festival, when the cover 25 spectators were standing on to get a better view of the stage gave way so they fell more than 10m into the ventilation system.

The accident took place during the performance of girl group 4Minute, whose agency Cube Entertainment said the band members and staff learned of the accident only after the band had finished their performance while they were on their way back to Seoul.

"We hope that none of the spectators experience much damage from today's accident," the agency said in a statement.

The said K-Pop concert accident is the latest in a series of accidents in South Korea, which is the fourth-largest economy and one of the leading manufacturing and export powerhouses in Asia and one of the most technically advanced countries in the world, according to Toronto Sun.

Despite its status in economy and technology, South Korea has been criticized due to such controversial accidents, including the South Korean ferry that sank in April killing young students on a field trip.

T-ara, JungGiGo, and Cherry Filter were also supposed to perform at the music festival aside from 4Minute, which is led by singer and dancer Hyuna, the lead dancer in the music video of the hit song "Gangnam Style" by the South Korean rapper Psy.

During the initial production stage of "Gangnam Style," Hyuna was said to have been personally selected by Psy. A female version of the 2012 hit song featuring Hyuna's additional vocals was also released.

Psy performed "Gangnam Style" along with his other hit song "Gentleman" as the finale of the performances of several pop stars at the opening of the 2014 Asian Games at the Incheon Asiad Main Stadium on Sept.19, Hello Kpop reported.

Tags : K-pop south korea South Korean stars 4Minute Gangnam Style Hyuna Psy