Korean band Akdong Musician holds concert in Shanghai

SEOUL, Dec. 23 (Yonhap) — South Korean duo band Akdong Musician, also known as AKMU, held its first concert in China, the band’s management agency said Friday.

The duo, consisting of siblings Lee Chan-hyuk and Lee Su-hyun, received rave reviews from local fans after showcasing hit tracks at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai, Thursday, according to YG Entertainment.

This image, provided by YG Entertainment, shows South Korean duo band Akdong Musician performing its hit tracks at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai on Dec. 22. 2016.

The concert came under spotlight as it was held amid growing concerns over China banning Korean celebrities from working in the country in suspected retaliation for Seoul’s decision to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) on the Korean Peninsula.

Korean stars have been restricted from performing in the country since October. But last month, the Chinese cultural authority granted permission to Akdong Musician to hold their show in Shanghai, prompting anticipation that the authority might have recently eased its stance.

At the event, the musicians performed their self-composed hit tracks “Don’t Cross Your Legs” and “Re-Bye” and BIGBANG member Taeyang’s “Eyes, Nose, Lips,” among others. For the encore, the members performed “200%,” in which the fans responded by holding up a banner that read “China Luvs AKMU.”

“We are extremely happy to meet our overseas fans. We appreciate everyone here for welcoming us warmly although we haven’t been very active in China,” the duo said at the event.

Akdong Musician will unveil the second half of its “AKMU Puberty” album on Jan. 3. Prior to the official release, the band will drop a short musical film on Wednesday promoting the highly anticipated tracks off the upcoming album.