Actor Baek Sung-hyeon said he is working to compensate the National Fire Agency, the Korea Coast Guard and groups for people with severe disabilities that he had invited to the musical "Eyes of Dawn."
An interview with actor Baek Sung-hyeon was held on the 26th at a cafe in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam District, Seoul.
Recently Baek Sung-hyeon appeared in the musical "Eyes of Dawn" in the role of Choi Dae-chi, which became embroiled in controversy over an early cancellation. However, after Baek Sung-hyeon joined, the production was halted after just two performances due to unpaid wages, leading some actors to boycott and the show to end early.
In particular, Baek Sung-hyeon joined this production additionally and arranged seats so that current and former firefighters as well as the Korea Coast Guard could be directly invited to watch the performance. However, when the production was halted early, some of those who had visited the theater turned around and left.
Baek Sung-hyeon said he first expressed his apology to those he had invited. There was even an incident in which the performance was suspended before the first show, and because of that Baek Sung-hyeon, as a lead actor, delivered an apology.
He said the thing that personally surprised him was that he thought firefighters would like to see the production. From the period of Japanese colonial rule to liberation and various aspects of modern history, when you look at the past, it is not a grand heroic historical tale, but the director's intent was to show people who were vulnerable in those situations and, within that context, the flow of the era and scenes of people suffering, he said, talking about the work.
He added, "In particular, we thought it would be meaningful to hold the performance in front of the national cemetery, so we discussed it with the producers and decided to invite people... but of all days, on the first day the invitees came, the performance couldn't go on. It turned out strangely. I was the one who invited them, but it wasn't my performance. And yet the performance didn't happen. So I thought it was right to express my apology about that."
Baek Sung-hyeon said, "To be honest, I wanted to invite many people in many ways, but this turned out like this... it's really regrettable," and added, "Anyway, the ones I feel most sorry to right now are the firefighters, the Korea Coast Guard and the groups for people with severe disabilities. I didn't think it would end after only two shows."
He emphasized, "I felt so sorry that I wanted to make amends somehow. Shinmangaeerumteo will participate as a model for one of its eco-friendly detergent projects and donate the advertising fees. The Korea Coast Guard was originally an ambassador, and unintentionally we caused them harm. We finished discussing participation in a public service video, and the National Fire Agency is also in talks. I think it's right to make amends in ways I can."
[Photo] MUMW
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