Singer Lee Seung-hwan has shared his recent status.
On the afternoon of the 16th, Lee Seung-hwan posted on his SNS, “I came to the U.S. for my niece's wedding,” and stated, “I was not denied entry by the CIA or HTML.”
This seems to be a comment made in light of the recent cancellation of the band Jaurim's concert in New York. Jaurim's agency, Interpark Entertainment, announced, “The concert scheduled for March 22 at The Town Hall in Manhattan, New York, has been temporarily postponed.”
They continued, “The concert was postponed after coordination due to administrative reasons. It is absolutely not because of the reported CIA notification,” and added, “The ticket reservation details will remain unchanged, and the concert will be held as soon as possible.”
Some have speculated that the postponement of Jaurim's concert is due to delays in entering the U.S. because of a CIA report, referring to it as the 'CIA report effect.' It is claimed that Kim Yoon-ah, the vocalist of Jaurim, who expressed support for the impeachment of President Yoon Seok-yeol, was reported to the CIA by far-right online communities, leading to issues with her entry into the U.S.
There is an interpretation that left-leaning individuals are being labeled as pro-North Korea forces or anti-American, making U.S. entry inspections stricter or hindering the issuance of the visa waiver program, ESTA.
In this context, Lee Seung-hwan seems to emphasize that he has faced no sanctions, appealing that there are no political issues.
Last December, Lee Seung-hwan attempted to hold a concert in Gumi but was canceled by the Gumi city government. The city expressed concerns about Lee Seung-hwan, who has made political statements during performances or candlelight vigils, and demanded a signature stating he would not make “political misunderstandings or remarks.” However, Lee Seung-hwan rejected this, arguing it was an infringement on his freedom.
While fans support Lee Seung-hwan's position, some express disappointment, questioning the act of making political statements itself.
[Ji Seung-hoon, Star Today Reporter]
