This event is not an official reunion of Sechs Kies,
said Mountain Movement Story as they clarified that a December concert featuring former members is a separate special event.
The organizer of the year-end event stepped forward to quell growing controversy. Mountain Movement Story issued an official statement on the 4th addressing fan opposition to Ko Ji-yong participating alongside Jang Su-won and Lee Jai-jin (Sportalkorea). The company sought to draw a hard line against speculation (Chosun).
Organizer Addresses Inspire Arena Event Plans
Ko Ji-yong, Jang Su-won, and Lee Jai-jin are scheduled to take the stage at Inspire Arena in Incheon on December 15 and 16 for “THE TREE in INSPIRE – the untold story of Sechskies,” an event organized ahead of the group’s 30th debut anniversary (Mediafine). The performance marks the first time Ko will appear on an official stage with Sechs Kies members in approximately 10 years, following a surprise appearance on MBC’s Infinite Challenge
in 2016 (Money Today). Members Eun Ji-won and Kim Jae-duck will not take part in the upcoming December dates (Chosun).
News of the staging prompted immediate pushback from supporters. The Sechs Kies Fan Union released a statement on the 2nd strongly opposing Ko’s return to group activities (Chosun). The fan coalition argued that Ko had commercially exploited the group’s brand value and fandom after stepping away from team activities in the past. They demanded an immediate halt to any commercial use of the group’s name and trademarks (Chosun). Tensions between fans and Ko stretch back to 2018, when supporters requested that portal sites remove his name from the group’s official profile over similar brand concerns (Money Today).
Mountain Movement Story Responds to Ticket Claims
Mountain Movement Story stressed that the concert is purely an independent gathering. This performance was not planned to declare or promote a full-group reunion or official activities of Sechs Kies,
the organizer stated (Chosun). The company added that the gathering is a separate special event where Ko Ji-yong, Jang Su-won, and Lee Jai-jin will share music, memories, and current stories with the audience
(Chosun). Addressing the speculation surrounding portal listings, the agency stated, There has been no announcement that Ko Ji-yong will officially join Sechs Kies or participate in future activities under the group’s name
(Chosun).
Social media controversy intensified when Ko posted a black-and-white photo on SNS featuring a person holding a finger to their lips in a silence gesture. He accompanied this with the caption Please!!
and the Black Eyed Peas song Shut Up
(Chosun). Simultaneously, online discussions targeted ticket costs after figures reaching up to 898,400 won circulated (Chosun). Mountain Movement Story refuted those claims, clarifying that the numbers represented sample room rates for the Inspire Hotel rather than event admission prices (Money Today).
We will do our best to ensure the concert proceeds smoothly for the attending fans,
Mountain Movement Story concluded (Sportalkorea).
Earlier coverage: Sechs Kies Fans Oppose Ko Ji-yong's Return