Singer Lee Seunghwan: "Gwangju Is the City That Saved Me"

After Gumi Cancellation, Lee Seunghwan Performs in Gwangju for 3,000 Fans
Says, "I Stand on Stage Not for Politics, but for Fairness and Common Sense"
Three-Hour Concert at Kim Daejung Center... Mayor Kang Gijeong Also in Attendance

"It took me eight and a half hours to get here. I am Lee Seunghwan, on the side of the people."

On the afternoon of the 3rd, at the multipurpose hall of the Kim Daejung Convention Center in Gwangju, singer Lee Seunghwan appeared on stage in a blue suit, greeted by cheers from about 3,000 audience members. The stage lights poured down, and a sea of cheering sticks lit up the venue. Even before the concert began, fans had filled the hall to capacity, and the Gwangju stop of the "HEAVEN" tour began.

On the 3rd, at the Kim Daejung Convention Center in Gwangju, Lee Seunghwan's 35th anniversary concert "HEAVEN" took place. With about 3,000 attendees gathered, Lee Seunghwan led the stage for three hours, saying, "I will prove the value of the ticket price." Photo by Song Bohyun

The Gwangju concert of Lee Seunghwan's 35th anniversary tour "HEAVEN" was symbolic in itself. Declaring, "I will prove the value of the ticket price," he filled the stage for nearly three hours without pause. As he said, "We may not be the best, but we have never once failed to give our all," the concert continued in a calm yet powerful manner.

During the performance, he addressed the controversy surrounding the cancellation of the Gumi concert. Lee Seunghwan said, "Gumi city cited safety concerns, but in reality, we were the ones who had prepared and requested most of the safety measures in advance," adding, "That explanation does not reflect the facts."

Mentioning former President Kim Daejung, he said, "Like former President Kim, I am someone who has believed in the power of culture and advocated for the power of performance," and added, "While the concert was blocked in Gumi, Gwangju is the city that gave me a chance." The audience responded with enthusiastic applause.

Among the attendees at the concert were Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijeong and Professor Park Guyong from the Department of Philosophy at Chonnam National University. Mayor Kang said, "Just as I once supported democracy through martial law and even impeachment, I am here to support Lee Seunghwan," and added, "I hope you leave with wonderful memories with the citizens of Gwangju."

Lim, a 38-year-old resident of Seo-gu, Gwangju, who attended the concert, said, "I was surprised to hear that the Gumi concert was canceled and immediately booked a ticket for the Gwangju show," adding, "Lee Seunghwan's concerts always carry a message, and tonight, his sincerity was fully conveyed on stage."

On the 3rd, Mayor Kang Gijeong of Gwangju's Seo-gu district took photos with citizens before the start of the concert at the Kim Daejung Convention Center, where singer Lee Seunghwan's 35th debut anniversary concert was held. Earlier, Lee Seunghwan had planned a concert in Gumi, Gyeongbuk, last December, but when the Gumi city government canceled the venue rental citing political agitation and other reasons, he decided to hold the concert in Gwangju at Mayor Kang's suggestion. Yonhap News

Meanwhile, Lee Seunghwan had originally planned to hold a concert at the Gumi Arts Center in Gyeongbuk on December 25 last year, but controversy arose when the Gumi city government canceled the venue rental, citing citizen safety and political neutrality.

Afterward, Mayor Kang proposed hosting the concert in Gwangju, and that proposal led to the performance at the Kim Daejung Convention Center on May 3.