K-pop stars BTS launched their new album in a virtually empty hall over coronavirus fears

South Korean pop group BTS -- arguably the biggest boy band in the world right now -- livestreamed a news conference for their latest album instead of holding it in front of an audience as a deadly coronavirus outbreak grips South Korea.
The decision to livestream the news conference for "Map of the Soul: 7" on Monday was made "to fully cooperate with the government's policy to refrain from holding events with a massive number of participants in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus," said a statement from BTS' management company, Big Hit Entertainment.

The statement urged fans to stay away from the venue of the news conference, adding, "The safety and health of our artists and fans will always be our priority."