"From Gumi to Gwangju... Lee Seunghwan Holds Concert at Democratic Sanctuary"

35th Anniversary Concert to Be Held at Kim Daejung Convention Center on May 3

Singer Lee Seunghwan. Photo captured from Lee Seunghwan's Facebook.

The concert by singer Lee Seunghwan, which was previously canceled in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, will be held in Gwangju on May 3. The venue is the Kim Daejung Convention Center Multipurpose Hall, which has a seating capacity of 3,000. Lee Seunghwan’s 35th anniversary concert, “Heaven,” is drawing attention as it will take place ahead of the 45th anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising.

According to Gwangju City and others on the 5th, Lee Seunghwan personally applied for the venue at the Kim Daejung Convention Center, and as a result, the concert schedule has been confirmed. Tickets will be available for reservation through Interpark Ticket starting at 2 p.m. on the 7th. On Facebook, Lee Seunghwan stated, “I am grateful for Gwangju City’s invitation to host the concert and will deliver the best performance of my life.” He added that the concert is organized by a performance planning company that rented the venue and is unrelated to Gwangju City.

Lee Seunghwan’s concert in Gwangju was arranged after the controversy over the cancellation of the venue in Gumi last year. Lee Seunghwan was scheduled to perform at the Gumi Culture and Arts Center on December 25 last year, but Gumi Mayor Kim Jangho canceled the reservation after demanding a pledge to “ban political agitation.” Gumi City cited concerns about clashes with conservative right-wing groups and citizen safety. Lee Seunghwan protested, calling it an “unreasonable demand,” and has filed a 250 million won damages lawsuit with the Seoul Central District Court.

Captured from Seunghwan Lee's Facebook

In this context, Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijung proposed on Facebook on December 24 last year, “Then let’s do it in Gwangju. I invite singer Lee Seunghwan to Gwangju.” Lee Seunghwan responded, “I look forward to performing in Gwangju, the sacred ground of democratization.” Gwangju City has supported the venue rental and cooperated with Lee Seunghwan’s side.

A city official said, “Lee Seunghwan applied for the venue, and Gwangju City only approved the rental; we did not intervene in the content of the event,” but added, “It is significant that the concert is being held in Gwangju, a city of art and democracy.”

Meanwhile, Lee Seunghwan has also filed a constitutional complaint against Mayor Kim Jangho, claiming infringement of freedom of expression, in addition to his damages lawsuit against Gumi City.