Musicians condemn Gumi City for canceling Lee Seung Hwan’s concert.

The musician community has issued a statement criticizing Gumi City’s decision to cancel Lee Seung Hwan’s concert.

On December 23rd KST, the 'Musicians’ Declaration Preparatory Committee' released an emergency statement titled “Stop Silencing Songs! Artistic and cultural activities are basic rights protected by the Constitution.”

The statement expressed disappointment and concern over Gumi City’s unilateral decision to cancel Lee Seung Hwan’s concert, citing “safety concerns.” It criticized the reasoning as an excuse to avoid addressing conflicts and shifting responsibility by taking the easy route of canceling the event.

“Gumi was once a symbol of South Korea’s industrialization and a hub for cutting-edge technology, a city where young people pursued their dreams. However, with this decision, Gumi has become a city that suppresses artistic freedom, infringes on citizens’ cultural rights, and restricts freedom of expression,” the statement declared.

The committee argued that “The South Korean Constitution guarantees artistic freedom for all citizens, and artistic activities must be protected regardless of the artist’s political views. Gumi City’s decision blatantly violates these constitutional values.”

The statement called for the immediate reversal of the cancellation decision and demanded that Gumi Mayor Kim Jang Ho issue a formal apology to artists and citizens. It also urged the city to establish institutional safeguards ensuring the independence and fairness of cultural and artistic administration while protecting citizens’ cultural rights and ending attempts at artistic censorship.

The Musicians’ Declaration has the backing of 2,645 artists and had previously issued a statement on December 18th criticizing President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law.

Gumi City canceled Lee Seung Hwan’s concert, originally scheduled for December 25th, citing “safety reasons.” Local conservative groups had protested, alleging that Lee’s participation in rallies calling for President Yoon’s impeachment was politically charged. Despite the controversy, the concert was sold out. Lee Seung Hwan expressed regret over Gumi City’s unilateral decision and announced plans for legal action.

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