Singer Kim Jang-hoon announced the cancellation of his concert and mentioned the impact of the chaotic situation.
On the 17th, Kim Jang-hoon posted a lengthy message on his personal social media, stating, "I bring unfortunate news. The Suncheon concert has been canceled."
"The reason is poor sales," he noted, adding, "No matter how poor the sales are, it's a promise to the audience, and I believe there will naturally be criticism that it should be kept unless it's an accident like last time."
Kim Jang-hoon's Suncheon concert was 70% booked right after the last martial law situation, but it was canceled on the day due to an accident at Muan Airport. He emphasized that this concert was planned without a guarantee in order to cover the losses for the concert planning company and that the performing arts and cultural sector are in an extremely difficult state due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, Kim Jang-hoon said, "In a difficult situation, successful concerts happen, and it's all due to my shortcomings," as he promised for the next Suncheon concert.
Below is the full statement regarding the cancellation of Kim Jang-hoon's Suncheon concert.
I am bringing unfortunate news.
The Suncheon concert has been canceled.
The reason is poor sales, but...
No matter how poor the sales are, it's a promise to the audience, and I believe there will naturally be criticism that it should be kept unless it's an accident like last time.
Due to the current chaotic situation, almost all cultures in South Korea have diminished.
As you can see from the ticket sales, the performance at the Seoul National Theater is estimated to have only reached about one-fifth of the expected sales.
In Suncheon, slightly over 10% of total seats have been sold.
Both the planning company and I were quite surprised.
I don't think there was ever such a situation even during tough times in the past.
During the last Suncheon concert, even with the martial law crisis, ticket sales were completely halted from that day, and about 70% of the tickets were still booked.
However, that concert was canceled on the day due to the Muan accident, and the planning company was in a difficult position, but thankfully they understood.
Therefore, this concert was naturally being held without a guarantee for the planning company's loss compensation.
I tried my best,
but even so, if the concert had gone on, the damage to the local planning company would have been too great, leading them to propose a cancellation.
Though it was called a proposal, it was actually a request.
A desperate one...
Planning companies are really struggling.
They have endured three years of hardship due to the pandemic and are facing financial difficulties again in this situation,
and there's no compensation.
The cultural sector is always the first to suffer when something happens.
Even the theater district, which is the most popular cultural activity, is not escaping this current situation.
If it were up to me, I would cover all the losses and perform whether it be 50 minutes or 100 minutes... I thought about it,
but for the Seoul concert, due to my concert philosophy, ticket prices are already quite low, and given the situation, a deficit is anticipated.
I do not yet have the ability to support both Seoul and Suncheon.
I am truly sorry.
When times get better, I will definitely come back.
Alternatively, if my business does well and I earn a lot of money, I will take responsibility and perform under any circumstances.
The best scenario would be to build trust in my concerts as I used to and for them to succeed regardless of the times, as that would be the best outcome.
Even in this situation, successful concerts do happen.
Concerts with strong fandoms or trot performances seem to be doing fine.
It's my shortcoming.
The Suncheon planning company, which is exceptionally kind and good, even agreed to my request to price tickets at 99,000 won for adults and 20,000 won for youths, making me feel heavy-hearted as I have become a burden.
However, a singer should naturally be criticized for giving up a concert for any excuse.
Rather, I feel even more sorry for the audience in Suncheon who dreamed of my concert during difficult times. It is all my shortcoming.
I will work harder and ensure that I eventually return to Suncheon with the best concert.
At that time, I will invest substantial resources for an unprecedented production and provide the best concert in Suncheon's history.
I will take full responsibility for all practical issues and produce it myself.
When that time comes, I will perform even if just one person shows up.
I promise.
The situation in other local performances is quite similar.
However, other local concerts besides Suncheon are all produced by a single planning company.
They hold several hundred performances with multiple singers throughout the year, so they seem to have the capacity to sustain.
It's not that some are sincere about the performances and audiences while others are not; it's a matter of realistic conditions and system issues.
It's a unique system of a planning company.
I sincerely apologize to the audience in Suncheon.
I promise to definitely return with a good performance, so I humbly request you to understand just this once with an open heart.
I am really sorry for not being able to bring joy to the kind Suncheon planning company and only causing them harm, and I am very sorry to the audience in Suncheon.
I dare to hope that I will meet you again next time.
I am sorry.
You deserve to express your frustration, so please feel free to vent your anger here.
I will read it all, reflect, and reconsider.
Regards, Kim Jang-hoon.
[Photo] OSEN DB.
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