On the 23rd, Lee Seung-hwan posted on Instagram, “After the news about the cancellation of the Gumi concert, we have been receiving inquiries about hosting concerts from many places. Accordingly, we will revise the plan to end the tour at the end of March and continue the ‘HEAVEN Tour’ until July. (I was thinking about it) . Solved your concerns) Thank you, I apologize again to the Gumi audience and hope to see you at a nearby concert hall.”
Previously, on the 23rd, Gumi Mayor Kim Jang-ho announced, “We are canceling the Lee Seung-hwan concert scheduled to be held at the Gumi City Culture and Arts Center on the 25th.” “We have reached a conclusion in this direction,” he said.
He also said, “On the 10th, we sent an official letter emphasizing the conditions for permission from the standpoint that performances at the Culture and Arts Center may not be in the public interest, expressed concerns over the phone, and requested that political agitation be refrained.” Lee Seung-hwan said through his legal representative, He pointed out, “We have clearly expressed our opposition in writing, saying, ‘I have no intention of signing the attached pledge not to make any political comments or actions.’”
He continued, “In response to Gumi City’s request for cooperation on citizen safety, comments such as ‘Thank you, conservative right-wing groups’, which could be seen as ridicule and sarcasm to civic groups, have led to a situation where the safety of citizens and audiences is even more concerned.” added.
In response to this, Seung-hwan Lee said on Instagram, “Gumi City says it was a ‘decision for safety’, but we cannot agree.” He added, “We ask performance attendees to ensure physical distance from the anti-performance rally and do not provoke the rally. “I have asked you to refrain from any offensive words or actions,” he said.
He continued, “We told the hall, ‘If you send us a map showing the location where the assembly has been reported, we will notify the audience so that they can avoid the location or maintain their distance while moving.’” “We decided to increase security personnel and notified the hall of this,” he pointed out, adding, “Gumi City should have ensured appropriate assemblies and demonstrations through the police, while also protecting visitors’ rights to enjoy culture.”
Along with the article, Seung-Hwan Lee posted a pledge containing the content, ‘I will not use words or actions such as political incitement or political misunderstanding.’ This pledge does not have the seal of Lee Seung-hwan or his agency. Seung-Hwan Lee said, “It appears that the real reason for canceling the rental was ‘refusal to sign the pledge,’” and called this an unfair request.
Seung-hwan Lee said, “I do not engage in ‘political agitation’. In the rental agreements of some theaters, there is a condition that ‘performances with political purposes’ are not permitted to be rented, but since my performance was not an event with ‘political purposes’, I have not been able to rent a room until now. “It’s never been a problem,” he said. Also, “What is ‘political misunderstanding’? ‘Aren’t you guys frustrated these days?’ ‘Everyone, are you feeling comfortable these days?’ He appealed, saying, “Please don’t say anything because anything you say will be misunderstood.”
Seunghwan Lee said, “I am proud that I have branded and systematized the barren performing arts industry in Korea while living as a singer for 35 years.” He added, “Right before the performance date, I was told, ‘Write your name on a document saying you will not say or do anything that is politically misunderstanding.’ ‘If you don’t write your name, the performance will be cancelled. “To have to be asked to ‘may’ is something that should not happen in the Republic of Korea, a democratic country where freedom of expression is the top priority,” he emphasized.
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