National Assembly passes revised law aiming to protect entertainers' freedom
The legal dispute and broader controversy over censorship of entertainers' political expression continued after Gumi City canceled singer Lee Seung-hwan's concert, citing public safety. Amid the ongoing controversy, a bill that bans government and local authorities from interfering with the content of artistic activities passed in the National Assembly.
Rep. Cho Gye-won of the Democratic Party, who proposed the bill, referenced the Gumi concert cancellation and emphasized the importance of protecting cultural and artistic freedom.
The revised Framework Act on Culture mandates that while the state and local governments can support cultural promotion, they are strictly prohibited from interfering with the content. The bill was passed on Dec. 31, 2024.
Rep. Cho stated, “Lee Seung-hwan’s freedom of expression was violated, and concert staff faced economic threats simply because he supported the impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol, a traitor who trampled on citizens and constitutional institutions. With this amendment, I hope we can ensure better protection for cultural and artistic professionals.”
Meanwhile, the Gumi Hometown Association, consisting of about 500 Gumi residents, issued a statement Monday expressing support for Gumi City. "We fully agree with the Gumi Mayor's view that freedom of expression cannot be prioritized over the safety and lives of citizens," the statement said.
The incident dates back to Dec. 23, 2024, when Gumi Mayor Kim Jang-ho issued a statement saying Lee's concert scheduled for Dec. 25 at Gumi Arts Center's Grand Performance Hall was canceled due to safety concerns, citing the possibility of clashes between conservative groups and Lee's fans over the singer's political remarks.
Lee, however, revealed that before the cancellation, Mayor Kim had demanded he sign a pledge promising to refrain from political statements. Lee refused, which he claims directly led to the cancellation. The singer described the incident as a "violation of freedom of expression” through his social media.
Lee has initiated a lawsuit against Gumi City with 100 ticket holders as joint plaintiffs. The lawsuit demands 100 million won ($67,800) in damages on behalf of Lee and 500,000 won per ticket holder. Lee has committed to covering all legal costs himself.
Lee's attorney, Lim Jae-sung, also stated that evidence is being collected to address the spread of false rumors about Lee. After the Gumi concert cancellation, false statements demanding the cancellation of Lee’s performances have been repeatedly posted on local government websites in other regions where his concerts are scheduled.
One example cited was a post on the Jinju City Hall website dated Dec. 23, 2024, which falsely claimed that Lee had been advocating "anti-Americanism and the withdrawal of US troops."
“Criticism, debate and opposition must be respected. People are free to express their objections to performances. However, publicly disseminating false claims that damage an individual’s reputation cannot be tolerated,” Lim said.
