Lee Seung Hwan Launches Legal Action Over Concert Cancellation

On January 3, 2025, singer Lee Seung Hwan took to his social media to announce the recruitment of 100 plaintiffs for a lawsuit regarding the cancellation of his concert in Gumi. He stated, "Here is the link for the recruitment of 100 plaintiffs for the Gumi concert damage compensation lawsuit. You can find detailed information by visiting the link in my profile."

Lee Seung Hwan's legal representatives explained that the lawsuit is directed against Gumi Mayor Kim Jang-ho and others for the unilateral and unjust cancellation of the venue contract for the Gumi Culture and Arts Center on December 23, 2024, which led to the cancellation of Lee Seung Hwan's 35th anniversary concert scheduled for December 25, 2024.

The Gumi city government had previously canceled the concert citing safety concerns. Mayor Kim Jang-ho mentioned that he requested Lee Seung Hwan's team to submit a safety personnel deployment plan and to refrain from political provocations, but the singer's legal representative declined to sign a pledge regarding these requests.

In response, Lee Seung Hwan indicated his intention to pursue legal action and has begun the process of recruiting plaintiffs. His legal team stated, "We have agreed to limit the lawsuit to 100 ticket purchasers for this concert, and we ask for your understanding regarding the need for a swift process and practical considerations."

The compensation claim amounts to 100 million KRW for Lee Seung Hwan and 500,000 KRW per ticket holder, with additional claims for economic damages incurred by Dream Factory, the concert's organizing company. Lee Seung Hwan will cover the legal costs.

Despite the ongoing lawsuit, Lee Seung Hwan's concert at the Gyeongnam Culture and Arts Center is set to proceed on January 11, 2025, without cancellation, despite some public complaints. There was also a controversy regarding the concert's cancellation in Jinju, where a request to cancel the concert was posted on the city’s website. However, officials confirmed that the concert would not be canceled, stating it complies with local regulations and that they had ensured no political statements would be made during the event.