Singer Lee Seung-hwan has announced his intention to continue his legal battle after Gumi Mayor Kim Jang-ho refused to apologize for the cancellation of his concert venue rental.
Lee stated, “As I mentioned, I will begin the appeal process. I plan to increase my legal representation from two to ten lawyers.” He added that he will thoroughly examine the State Compensation Act to ensure that those responsible for arbitrary and anti-democratic decisions that cause actual damage cannot escape the law.
Lee emphasized, “I will make sure Kim Jang-ho can no longer easily spout values like law, principles, citizens, and safety, which he does not possess.” He further stressed that he intends to stop the abuse of arrogant and lawless power through this court ruling, so that narrow-minded and regressive actions, such as denying or canceling venue rentals based on personal preference, are not repeated.
In the post, Lee tagged Mayor Kim’s SNS account and added, “You shouldn’t use tax money this time.”
Previously, Gumi City canceled Lee Seung-hwan’s concert, which was scheduled for December 25, 2024, at the Gumi City Culture and Arts Center, just two days before the show. This happened after Lee expressed support for the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, prompting conservative civic groups in the region to announce protests. Gumi City requested a pledge from Lee’s side to refrain from “political agitation and behavior,” and when Lee refused, the city canceled the rental citing citizen safety.
Subsequently, 102 people, including Lee Seung-hwan, his agency Dream Factory, and concert ticket holders, filed a lawsuit for damages, claiming economic and mental distress due to the unfair cancellation. Lee and the agency each claimed 100 million KRW in alimony, while ticket holders claimed 500,000 KRW each.
Regarding this, Presiding Judge Park Nam-jun of the Seoul Central District Court ruled on the 8th that the plaintiffs partially won the damages lawsuit filed by Lee against Gumi City and Mayor Kim.
The court ordered Gumi City to pay 35 million KRW to Lee, 75 million KRW to the agency, and 150,000 KRW to each ticket holder. This means 125 million KRW out of the 250 million KRW claim was recognized. However, the court did not recognize the mayor’s personal liability for compensation.
In response, Mayor Kim posted a statement on SNS on the 9th, saying, “As mayor, I will not back down on citizen safety according to law and principles, and I will continue to prioritize the lives and safety of citizens.” He added that he would proceed with further responses after receiving legal counsel.
On the 11th, Lee responded on SNS, saying, “As an older brother by four years, I would like to offer some advice and a suggestion. If you just say one honest sentence, ‘Brother, I was wrong,’ I will accept the entire first-instance ruling, including the part regarding defendant Kim Jang-ho.”
He continued, “I do not wish for Gumi City to worsen. We must not leave the already wasted taxes, administrative power, and fallen internal and external trust neglected any longer.” He demanded a public apology, saying, “It will be a good thing for everyone, so please apologize like a Gyeongsang-do man. Please protect your last bit of pride as the Mayor of Gumi.”
