Lee Mujin's Performance Interrupted Amid Controversy Over Staff Conduct
Singer Lee Mujin (이무진) faced an unexpected interruption during a rehearsal for the '2025 Cheonan K-Culture Expo' when a staff member issued abrupt and disrespectful commands, leading to the cancellation of his performance. This incident has sparked discussions about potential abuse of power by the event organizers.
On June 5, Lee Mujin's agency, Big Planet Made Entertainment (빅플래닛메이드엔터), released a statement expressing their regret over the inappropriate behavior and disrespect shown by the staff towards Lee during the rehearsal. They announced plans to take strong action against the event organizers and the production team to protect their artist.
The incident occurred during the rehearsal for the expo's opening ceremony, where Lee was casually singing while checking the sound. Suddenly, a staff member interrupted him, saying, "Alright, that's enough. What are you doing right now? I’ll give you time to adjust the sound during the performance later. The next team is waiting, so we’ll stop here." This abrupt command left Lee looking startled as he quickly exited the stage, prompting boos from the audience directed at the organizers.
As footage of the incident circulated online, fans began to question whether the organizers had acted inappropriately. The staff's use of a somewhat commanding tone and informal language drew criticism, with many labeling it as rude.
In response to the backlash, the event organizers issued an apology, acknowledging that a communication issue among the staff led to this unfortunate incident. They expressed sincere apologies to the audience and fans, stating that the involved staff member had apologized to Lee and his team. They also promised to implement strict warnings and training for the staff to prevent similar situations in the future.
Despite the apology, criticism continued, prompting Lee Mujin's agency to reaffirm their commitment to ensuring a safe and respectful environment for their artists. They stated, "We will take all necessary measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future and will strive to provide a safe and respectful environment for our artists to perform."
Following this, the organizers issued a second apology, stating that they had given a strong warning to the event management agency and that the staff member involved had been removed from their position. They reiterated their sincere apologies to Lee Mujin, his fans, and all attendees of the event.
