Singer Lee Seung-hwan has announced that he will respond strongly to the dissemination of false information surrounding him.
Following the controversy over the cancellation of his performance in Gumi City, claims that he is "calling for anti-Americanism and the withdrawal of U.S. troops" spread online, prompting Lee Seung-hwan's side to firmly deny these allegations and announce a legal battle.
Lee Seung-hwan's legal representative, lawyer Lim Jae-sung, stated on the 4th through Lee Seung-hwan's official channel, "Recently, numerous false claims about Mr. Lee Seung-hwan have been confirmed on local government websites and online communities."
He added, "For example, false information stating that Mr. Lee Seung-hwan advocated for anti-Americanism and the withdrawal of U.S. troops was posted on the 'What I Expect from the Mayor' bulletin board of Jinju City Hall."
Lee Seung-hwan's side emphasized, "The dissemination of false information goes beyond mere expression of opinion and seriously damages the reputation of specific individuals," and stated, "Such behavior that distorts public discourse must be corrected." They also mentioned, "We are currently collecting evidence from related posts and comments, and we plan to take strong legal action against those spreading false information."
This situation began last December when Gumi City suddenly canceled Lee Seung-hwan's performance booking. At that time, Gumi Mayor Kim Jang-ho announced the cancellation, citing concerns about "potential physical clashes with conservative groups." In response, Lee Seung-hwan declared legal action by revealing a pledge from Gumi City not to engage in political agitation and initiated a lawsuit for damages.
In this lawsuit, Lee Seung-hwan recruited 100 ticket purchasers as plaintiffs and is claiming a total of 100 million won in damages. He stated, "I will bear all the legal costs in solidarity with the ticket purchasers who suffered losses due to the cancellation of the performance," emphasizing trust with his fans.
Lee Seung-hwan's side reiterated their position, saying, "We respect criticism and debate, but we cannot tolerate the spreading of false information," and expressed hope that "this situation will lead to the maintenance of a healthy public discourse."
As a representative figure known for his convictions in the performance industry, attention is focused on how Lee Seung-hwan's response will conclude.
[Kim Seung-hye, MK Sports Reporter]
