Coldplay’s Chris Martin jokes about Korea’s missing president

Apr 21, 2025, 10:02 am

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Coldplay performs their second concert in Korea as part of the “Live Nation Presents Coldplay: Music of the Spheres Delivered by DHL” tour at Goyang Sports Complex in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on April 16. / Source: Live Nation Korea

Global band Coldplay drew laughs and attention during their concert in South Korea by making a light-hearted remark about the country’s current political situation.

At their second Seoul-area concert on April 18, held at Goyang Sports Complex as part of the Live Nation Presents Coldplay: Music of the Spheres Delivered by DHL tour, frontman Chris Martin addressed the crowd with a cheeky comment: “Why is there never a president when Coldplay comes to Korea?”

The remark referred to both of the band’s visits to South Korea being marked by presidential impeachments or transitions. When Coldplay first performed in the country in 2017, South Korea was in the midst of President Park Geun-hye’s impeachment.

Martin, who hails from the United Kingdom—a constitutional monarchy—continued, “I’m from a country without a president. Do you really need one? You seem to be doing great without one,” drawing laughter from the packed audience.

He went on to jokingly nominate a replacement president: “There’s someone I’d recommend—kind, funny, strong, and a good person,” he said, pointing to Coldplay’s drummer Will Champion, who responded with a smile to the unexpected endorsement.

Meanwhile, Coldplay’s second visit to South Korea includes six shows held on April 16, 18, 19, 22, 24, and 25. The concerts are expected to draw a record-breaking total of 300,000 attendees to Goyang, marking the largest-ever audience for a foreign artist in the history of concerts held in Korea.