Same Space, Different Standards... Why Is Wikid Allowed but Isora Not?

Lee Jayeon, President of the Korea Singers Association
"Government Policy Lacks Fairness" Criticism
Ban on Concerts with Over 100 People
Musicals and Plays Allow Seating with Companions

"Must Eliminate Discrimination Against Performances Threatening Livelihoods"
Concert and Music Festival Workers Launch Collective Action
Inconsistent Interpretations by Local Governments Also a Problem
Government: "Strict Enforcement Confirmed, Reform Work Underway"

A scene from the musical Wicked.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dong-hyun] "Musicals, plays, and classical concerts are allowed, so why are popular music concerts not? The lives of popular music cultural artists and performance-related staff are being devastated."

Lee Ja-yeon, president of the Korea Singers Association, criticized the government's quarantine guidelines for being unfair in an interview with Asia Economy on the 7th. Under the current Level 2 social distancing (in the metropolitan area), popular music concerts are classified as 'gatherings/events' and cannot have more than 100 people. In contrast, other performance genres like musicals can hold performances regardless of size as long as they comply with 'seat spacing except for companions.'

President Lee is also an active singer. As performances were repeatedly canceled due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, she had to witness the worsening health of an acquaintance. She lamented, "The CEO of the agency I have worked closely with for a long time recently underwent emergency surgery for a myocardial infarction," adding, "The cause was a lot of economic and mental stress due to all performance contracts being canceled." Unable to stand by, she recently demanded system improvements in an emergency meeting with Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hwang Hee.

Lee Jayeon, President of the Korea Singers Association (right), and Hwang Hee, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Currently, the livelihoods of those working in popular music concerts, music festivals, and related events are on the brink. According to the 'Research on the Impact of COVID-19 on the Popular Music (Performance-related) Industry' published by the Korea Creative Content Agency on the 4th of last month, the sales of performance planning businesses and venues last year were only 18% compared to the previous year. A representative of an entertainment company said, "All 16 performances contracted last year, including festivals and nationwide tours, were canceled."

Concert cancellations have continued this year as well. The concert of singer Lee So-ra, scheduled to be held at Blue Square in Yongsan-gu, Seoul from March 18 to April 1, was canceled eight days before the event. However, the musical 'Wicked' at the same venue is currently continuing with 'sold-out seats' without any issues. Boy group Monsta X also planned concerts on April 6-7 but canceled them three days prior. Additionally, group Enhypen's fan meeting, 'Singer Again Top 10' concert, and 'Mr. Trot Top 6' concert were also canceled one after another due to violations of quarantine guidelines.

On the other hand, musicals and plays have allowed seating with companions since February. Performances have become more active regardless of scale, and sales have recovered. According to the Korea Performing Arts Integrated System (KOPIS), sales of musicals, plays, and classical concerts in February and March were 29.6 billion KRW, 4.6 billion KRW, and 2.5 billion KRW respectively, marking increases of 17%, 87%, and 317% compared to the same period last year.

The Emergency Measures Committee for the Normalization of Popular Music Performances campaigning to abolish discrimination in performances.

Popular music performance workers have eventually taken collective action. The 'Emergency Countermeasures Committee for the Normalization of Popular Music Performances,' formed by performance planning companies, production firms, and singer management agencies, has issued two appeals this year alone. A committee member said, "We endure living with discrimination and loss while watching other genre performances continue as usual," and appealed, "Please eliminate the discrimination between performances that even destroys our right to survival." A petition titled 'Please change the quarantine guidelines for popular music performances (concerts)' posted on the Blue House's public petition board on the 25th of last month had over 1,000 supporters as of the 8th.

The government strengthened quarantine standards only for popular music concerts because it considers the risk of droplet transmission higher due to shouting and group singing. However, there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 transmission at popular music concerts yet. An industry insider said, "If you visit performance venues these days, singers are the first to ask fans to refrain from group singing, and most fans comply well," criticizing, "I wonder if policies are actually made by visiting the sites."

Arbitrary interpretations of quarantine guidelines by local governments have also come under scrutiny. Singer Paul Kim held a concert with over 100 attendees at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul from March 12 to 14. Seoul city classified his performance genre not as popular music but as 'crossover' with a string orchestra. As a result, some singers who could not hold their own concerts have tried to prepare by collaborating with classical musicians instead.

However, the crossover genre group La Poem's concert planned for March 27-28 at Kyung Hee University's Peace Hall in Seoul was postponed by one week due to disapproval from the local government. An industry insider said, "Whether a performance can be held varies greatly depending on the performance type and local government interpretation," adding, "Some places initially said performances were possible but suddenly notified disapproval one week before the concert."

With the situation like this, the government has also begun improving quarantine guidelines. A Ministry of Health and Welfare official said, "It is true that stricter standards were applied to concerts due to the higher possibility of COVID-19 transmission through shouting compared to movies, plays, and musicals," adding, "Currently, the quarantine authorities have started revising the guidelines, and new guidelines will be implemented once the number of confirmed cases begins to decline."