Lee Seung-hwan announced a statement on the cancellation of performances in Europe and America, as well as a public-private partnership.
Jan 08, 2025
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The Korea Popular Music and Performance Industry Association (hereinafter referred to as the Mgong Association) issued a statement on the 8th regarding Lee Seung-hwan's Gumi concert scheduled for the 25th of last month, expressing deep regret for unilaterally canceling private performances to Gumi City and the mayor, and demanding that the affected audience and performance officials deliver sincere apologies and compensation.
Gumi Mayor Kim Jang-ho said in an emergency statement last month that he would not make words and actions regarding the purpose of establishing a culture and arts center and political instigation and misunderstandingThe rental is inevitably canceled in consideration of the refusal to seal the pledge and the fact that it cannot be considered that an incident such as unpredictable physical conflict does not occur" he said.
The Korea Music and Performing Arts Association criticized the cancellation of the performance as `an act that ignores the entire Korean pop music performance industry and pop culture and arts beyond one artist.' In particular, he pointed out that "defying the expectations of the numerous audiences who have been waiting for the performance and depriving them of the opportunity to enjoy local culture is a clear unfair act.'
In connection with the cancellation of the performance, the Korea Music and Public Association emphasized that a sincere apology and sufficient compensation should be made to the audience and performance professionals in connection with the cancellation of the performance "With this incident, a clear standard for cancellation of the performance is established and this standard is required to be operated transparently and objectively."The Korea Music and Space Association will continue to do its best to protect the rights and interests of artists, audiences, and performers."
Earlier, Lee Seung-hwan was scheduled to hold a 35th anniversary concert at the Gumi Culture and Arts Center on December 25 last year, but Gumi Mayor Kim Jang-ho notified the cancellation of the rental two days before the performance due to concerns about clashes between the audience and conservative right-wing organizations. Lee Seung-hwan claimed that Gumi City forced the signing of a pledge related to political agitation and that the performance was canceled when it refused.
In addition to compensation for the staff, Lee Seung-hwan said he will bear the full cost of a damage suit filed by 100 spectators against Gumi Mayor Kim Jang-ho. Lim Jae-sung, a lawyer at Haemaru Law Firm, a legal representative, said Lee Seung-hwan and concert bookers plan to claim damages against Mayor Kim, and the total amount of claims included 100 million won in damages and 500,000 won per audience.
Regarding the compensation, he also said, "(If I win, I will donate all of it to our Dreamlight Youth Orchestra in Gumi City.") and added, "(If the lawyer) receives a success fee, I will donate a large portion of it."
▶ Full text of the contents of the statement below
The Korea Popular Music Performance Industry Association (hereinafter referred to as the Mgongkong Association) condemns singer Lee Seung-hwan's unilateral cancellation of "Lee Seung-hwan's 35th Anniversary Concert? Gumi (hereinafter referred to as "Lee Seung-hwan's Gumi Performance") that it can be a serious case of unfair behavior toward Korean pop music performances and popular culture arts beyond a single pop culture artist and demands the following from Gumi City and Gumi Mayor Kim Jang-ho.
1. The Korea Music and Communications Association deeply regrets the decision to cancel Lee Seung-hwan's concert scheduled for Dec. 25 last year for refusing to sign a unilateral pledge. In the press conference, the reason for the cancellation notice was 'Citizen's Safety', but despite the fact that the city and the mayor did not disclose any safety measures in advance and had time to discuss sufficient consultations and agreements for a smooth performance, the city and the mayor presented a surprise and unilateral pledge and transferred all responsibilities to agencies and artists. Therefore, we ask for a clear explanation of the fact that there was no active consultation process in advance and a pledge to prevent recurrence in the future.
2. Lee Seung-hwan's performance in Gumi was neither a free performance for anyone to see nor an outdoor event for anyone to hear. It was a paid concert only for the singer Lee Seung-hwan and the audience who respected his music, and all seats were already sold out. As we enter the qualitative improvement and advancement of culture, the popular culture and arts world uses the word 'Daegwan Service' in renting a concert hall and all its tasks. The venue receives a rental fee for users (artists, organizers, staff, etc.) and audiences who use the space, and the agency or creator who pays the rental fee will have a status as a customer at the venue. Lee Seung-hwan's performance in Gumi is known as a so-called rental performance prepared as part of a nationwide tour, rather than a joint planning or guest performance that receives guarantees with local governments.
It is a way to consider the claims and isolation of some citizens who have nothing to do with watching the performance, and to easily lose the rare opportunity to enjoy culture by users who have prepared the performance through due process and audiences who have been waiting for it, is a testament to the fact that the city and the mayor consider popular culture and art as a tool or accessory for politics. In response, the city and the mayor demand a clear answer on whether to impose unilateral and ambiguous regulations that are difficult to see in any venue in the future, along with rental services contrary to the positions of users and audiences.
3. From the cancellation notice to the present, the city and mayor have not said a single word about the damage to more than 1,000 audiences, performance agencies, participating companies and personnel, as well as singer Lee Seung-hwan, and their relief and compensation measures. As is already known, December 25th last year is the peak season of the performance market, and the above personnel lost their precious time and considerable cost, as well as the planning cost due to the sudden cancellation notice. When making a decision that will affect the private sector with someone's administrative judgment in a democracy, the social impact and the scale of damage that will occur, and most importantly, individual rights and freedoms, must be fully considered, and responsibility must also be accompanied. due to unilateral and sudden notice of cancellation.The city and the mayor must come up with a quick and substantial compensation plan with a sincere apology to those who have been indirectly affected.
Just as freedom is respected and guaranteed by law in Korea, a liberal democratic country in which we operate, popular culture and art must be guaranteed diversity and freedom of creation, and must never be governed by someone's intellectual decision and external pressure in the expression and process.
In response, the Korea Popular Music Performance Industry Association hopes that this incident will ensure the creative activities of popular culture artists, create a foundation for the audience to be respected, and do its best to industrialize more advanced popular music performances and protect the rights and interests of those involved. Thank you.
shyun@sportschosun.com
