Singer Lee Seung-hwan has issued a warning against the spread of false information.
Lee Seung-hwan's legal representative, lawyer Lim Jae-sung from the law firm Haemaru, stated in an official position on the 4th, "After the unjust cancellation of the Gumi concert, there have been numerous instances of false information about Lee Seung-hwan being posted on the websites of local governments where his concerts are scheduled, demanding the cancellation of the performances."
Lee Seung-hwan's side pointed out, "A representative example is found in the Jinju City Hall website's 'What I Want from the Mayor' section, where it is stated that Lee Seung-hwan 'shouted anti-American sentiments and called for the withdrawal of U.S. troops' on December 23, 2024."
They emphasized, "Criticism, debate, and discussion should naturally be respected, and it should also be guaranteed that those who oppose the performance can express their opinions of 'opposition' and 'cancellation.' However, one should not publicly state false information that damages the reputation of a specific individual."
Additionally, Lee Seung-hwan's side stated, "We hope that the public discourse is not distorted by the spread of false information. We are collecting related materials such as posts and comments as evidence, as there is a possibility that such issues may spread in the future."
Previously, Gumi City canceled Lee Seung-hwan's concert scheduled for the 25th of last month, citing 'safety reasons.' Local conservative right-wing groups claimed that Lee Seung-hwan attended a rally urging the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol and made political statements, leading to the concert's cancellation.
Gumi Mayor Kim Jang-ho stated, "Considering the purpose of establishing the cultural arts center, the refusal to sign a pledge stating that 'there will be no political incitement or misunderstandings,' and the possibility of unpredictable physical clashes, it is unavoidable to cancel the venue rental."
Afterward, Lee Seung-hwan remarked, "The real reason for the cancellation of the venue rental seems to be the 'refusal to sign the pledge,'” adding, "This incident is a matter of 'freedom of expression.' A public institution demanded that a creator sign a document stating that they would not engage in 'political misunderstandings or actions' in advance, and when they did not comply, disadvantages occurred. It is unfortunate and miserable," indicating potential legal action against Mayor Kim Jang-ho for damages.
Below is the full statement from Lee Seung-hwan's representative
Hello, I am lawyer Lim Jae-sung (from the law firm Haemaru), representing singer Lee Seung-hwan.
After the unjust cancellation of the Gumi concert, there have been numerous instances of false information about Lee Seung-hwan being posted on the websites of local governments where his concerts are scheduled, demanding the cancellation of the performances. A representative example is found in the Jinju City Hall website's "What I Want from the Mayor" section, where it is stated that Lee Seung-hwan "shouted anti-American sentiments and called for the withdrawal of U.S. troops" on December 23, 2024.
Criticism, debate, and discussion should naturally be respected, and it should also be guaranteed that those who oppose the performance can express their opinions of 'opposition' and 'cancellation.' However, one should not publicly state false information that damages the reputation of a specific individual.
We hope that the public discourse is not distorted by the spread of false information. We are collecting related materials such as posts and comments as evidence, as there is a possibility that such issues may spread in the future.
