Singer Lee Seung-hwan has expressed his stance regarding the cancellation of his concert in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province.
On the afternoon of the 23rd, Lee Seung-hwan stated on his social media, "I express my regret over the unilateral decision by the Gumi city authorities to cancel the concert. I will promptly proceed with legal action against Gumi city. The legal and economic responsibilities arising from this unilateral and unjust cancellation should be borne by those involved in this decision, not through Gumi city's taxes."
On the same day, the Gumi city authorities stated, "We concluded that we had no choice but to cancel the concert for safety reasons due to concerns about potential physical clashes between the audience and right-wing groups. The safety of citizens is our top priority."
Previously, Gumi city had informed Lee Seung-hwan's team about the possibility of concert cancellation informally while discussing safety issues last week. It is reported that the cancellation procedures have already been completed.
Lee Seung-hwan has publicly expressed his support for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol. Consequently, right-wing groups have been demanding the cancellation of Lee Seung-hwan's concert in Gumi.
In response to Gumi city's decision, Lee Seung-hwan argued, "This is not a decision for safety." According to him, the concert organizers proposed various measures, including increasing security personnel at the venue, due to concerns about potential physical clashes between opposing protest groups and the audience. Lee Seung-hwan asserted that Gumi city should have ensured the right to peaceful assembly while also protecting the cultural enjoyment rights of the audience.
He further stated that the reason for the cancellation was "the refusal to sign a pledge." It is reported that the pledge included clauses stating that "the agency and singer Lee Seung-hwan will not engage in political agitation or political misunderstandings in accordance with the regulations for the performance permit at the Gumi Culture and Arts Center." Lee Seung-hwan rejected this pledge.
Lee Seung-hwan raised his voice, saying, "I did not engage in political agitation," and emphasized, "This should not happen in a democratic country where freedom of expression is the foremost value." In conclusion, he stated, "This incident is a matter of 'freedom of expression.' It is unfortunate and miserable. I will point out the issues and work to elevate the level of our society again."
Previously, Lee Seung-hwan had publicly expressed his support for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol. As a result, he faced demands from right-wing groups to cancel his concert in Gumi.
In response, Lee Seung-hwan expressed his disappointment, saying, "This is my first concert in Gumi after 35 years of debut, and it is unfortunate." He added, "I will bring out my special vocal cords that I have been saving, tighten them, polish them, and change them, so I hope you are prepared to come. I will make it the best concert of my life."
Although Lee Seung-hwan is not currently active in broadcasting, he actively communicates with the public through social media. In particular, he expresses his political views openly on social media. He has also taken an active stance in support of the impeachment during the recent rally, even taking the stage to publicly endorse it.
