Lim Young-woong Decides to Continue Concert Amid National Mourning

Singer Lim Young-woong has made the difficult decision to proceed with his concert series despite the ongoing national mourning period in South Korea. Since December 27, he has been holding his solo concert 'Lim Young-woong Recital (RE:CITAL)' at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. At the recent concert, he expressed his heavy heart, stating, "I stand before you today with a heavy heart. I feel deep sorrow upon hearing the news of the precious lives lost in the recent plane crash, and I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to the victims and their families."

This tragedy occurred on the morning of December 29 at Muan International Airport in Jeollanam-do, where a Jeju Air flight from Bangkok, Thailand, attempted to land but collided with a fence. The aircraft was severely damaged upon impact with the runway's outer wall, resulting in a fire that consumed most of the plane except for the tail section. Tragically, 179 out of 181 people on board lost their lives, marking it as one of the worst aviation disasters in recent history.

In light of this incident, the broadcasting industry has halted all scheduled programming. Major award ceremonies have been canceled, and various entertainment shows, including popular YouTube broadcasts, have also decided to go off-air to observe a period of silence. The government has declared a national mourning period until January 4, 2025, at midnight, leading to the cancellation of year-end and New Year’s celebrations to allow for a more subdued transition into the new year.

On December 31, Lim Young-woong's agency released a statement on their official fan cafe, expressing their condolences to the victims and their families, and acknowledging the shared grief felt by many. They confirmed that the scheduled concerts would proceed after careful consideration, emphasizing the importance of honoring the commitment made to fans and the staff involved in the production.

However, the agency also announced that from January 2 to 4, attendees who wish to cancel their tickets can receive a full refund without any cancellation fees. They stated, "If you wish to express your condolences and do not want to attend the performance, please contact the Interpark customer service by the day before the concert for a full refund without any cancellation fees."

In contrast, other beloved artists known for their connection with fans, such as Lee Seung-hwan, Kim Jang-hoon, and Jo Yong-pil, have chosen to cancel their concerts out of respect for the national sentiment.