**Lee Seung-hwan Reaffirms Firm Stance After Partial Victory in Gumi Concert Cancellation Lawsuit**
Singer Lee Seung-hwan has reaffirmed his strong stance after partially winning a damages lawsuit concerning the politically-charged cancellation of his Gumi concert. On the 13th, Lee Seung-hwan took to his social media to express his frustration, stating, “Ultimately, no apology was offered. If that’s due to conviction, it’s chillingly terrifying; if it’s for pride, it’s pitifully laughable.”
He further announced his intent to appeal the ruling, declaring, “As I stated, I will proceed with the appeal. I will increase the number of legal representatives fivefold from the original two, making a total of ten. I will thoroughly examine whether there are any blind spots in the National Compensation Act to ensure that those responsible for inflicting actual damages through arbitrary and anti-democratic decisions, contrary to social norms, cannot escape legal repercussions.”
Lee Seung-hwan emphasized, “I will ensure that Mr. Kim Jang-ho can never again easily utter values like ‘law and principle,’ ‘citizens,’ and ‘safety’ which he himself does not uphold.”
He declared his broader goal, stating, “As Mr. Kim Jang-ho stated when canceling my concert, having lived a full life, I wish to leave a significant legal precedent as a senior in the music scene and a colleague, contributing to the coexistence and advancement of society and culture. This lawsuit’s verdict will halt the arrogant and reckless abuse of power, preventing such narrow-minded and regressive actions, like local governments arbitrarily denying or canceling venue rentals based on their whims, from happening again.”
Notably, addressing the Gumi Mayor directly, he added, “This time, you must not use taxpayer money.”
**Background of the Gumi Concert Cancellation Case**
Previously, on the 8th, Chief Judge Park Nam-jun of the Seoul Central District Court, Civil Division 913 Single Judge, ruled partially in favor of the plaintiffs in the 250 million won (approximately $183,000 USD) damages lawsuit filed by Lee Seung-hwan and others against Mayor Kim Jang-ho and Gumi City. The court ordered Gumi City to pay a total of 125 million won (approximately $91,500 USD) in compensation to Lee Seung-hwan, his agency, and concert ticket holders.
In response to the initial ruling, Lee Seung-hwan had stated he would accept the first-instance ruling if Mayor Kim offered an apology, adding a significant condition: “Excluding legal fees, the entire compensation amount will be donated to Gumi City’s ‘Our Dreambright Youth Orchestra.'”
The controversy began when Gumi City canceled Lee Seung-hwan’s concert, originally scheduled for December 25, 2024, at the Gumi City Culture & Arts Center, just two days before the event. At the time, local civic groups announced protests against his performance, citing Lee Seung-hwan’s remarks regarding the impeachment motion of former President Yoon Suk-yeol. Gumi City requested a pledge from Lee Seung-hwan not to engage in ‘political incitement or misunderstandings’ in his speech and actions, which he did not accept. Citing ‘the safety of citizens and audience members,’ the city then abruptly canceled the venue rental two days before the scheduled concert.
**Full Text of Lee Seung-hwan’s Social Media Post**
Ultimately, you offered no apology.
If that’s due to conviction, it’s chillingly terrifying; if it’s for pride, it’s pitifully laughable.
As I stated, I will proceed with the appeal.
I will increase the number of legal representatives fivefold from the original two, making a total of ten.
I will thoroughly examine whether there are any blind spots in the National Compensation Act to ensure that those responsible for inflicting actual damages through arbitrary and anti-democratic decisions, contrary to social norms, cannot escape legal repercussions.
Thereby, I will ensure that Mr. Kim Jang-ho can never again easily utter values like ‘law and principle,’ ‘citizens,’ and ‘safety’ which he himself does not uphold.
As Mr. Kim Jang-ho stated when canceling my concert, having lived a full life, I wish to leave a legal precedent as a senior in the music scene and a colleague, contributing to the coexistence and advancement of society and culture.
To prevent such incidents from happening again, and to stop the repetition of narrow-minded and regressive actions, such as local governments arbitrarily denying or canceling venue rentals based on their whims,
this lawsuit’s verdict will halt the arrogant and reckless abuse of power.
Mayor, this time, you must not use taxpayer money.
