Singer Lee Seung-hwan won in part in the first trial of a damages suit he filed against the city of Gumi and Gumi Mayor Kim Jang-ho, saying he suffered losses when his concert venue booking was canceled. The court recognized the city's liability for damages but found that Mayor Kim could not be held personally liable.
On May 8, Presiding Judge Park Nam-jun of the Seoul Central District Court Civil Division 913 ruled in favor of the plaintiffs in part in a damages suit that Lee, his agency Dream Factory, and concert ticket buyers filed against the city of Gumi and the mayor.
The court ordered the city of Gumi to pay a total of 125 million won to Lee and others: 35 million won to Lee, 75 million won to Dream Factory, and 150,000 won each to 100 ticket buyers. Lee's side initially sought 250 million won, but the court recognized only half.
The case began when Lee's concert, scheduled to be held at the Gumi Culture and Arts Center on Dec. 25, 2024, was canceled two days before the performance. Earlier, at a concert in another city, Lee said in connection with the passage of the impeachment bill against former President Yoon Suk-yeol, "I'm glad he was impeached. I think the world will be easier from now on." Afterward, a local civic group announced a rally opposing the Gumi concert.
The city of Gumi demanded that Lee's side submit a pledge not to make political remarks, and when Lee's side refused, it canceled the venue booking. At the time, Mayor Kim said, "We requested that Lee's side submit a pledge not to engage in political words or actions, but it was not accepted, so we canceled the performance."
A total of 102 people, including Lee, Dream Factory, and ticket buyers, filed suit in January last year, saying they suffered losses due to the city of Gumi's unilateral cancellation of the venue booking. In this ruling, the court recognized the city's liability for damages arising from the cancellation but rejected the claim for damages against Mayor Kim personally.
Lee's side said it will appeal. Lee's attorney said, "We plan to appeal to establish Mayor Kim's liability." Lee also issued a statement, calling it "a deeply regrettable ruling," and said, "We will appeal and pursue justice to the end." He added, "We will protect the conscience of musicians and the freedom of art, which must never be infringed."
Lee also filed a constitutional complaint over the same matter, but it was not accepted. In February last year, Lee filed a constitutional complaint, saying the city of Gumi's cancellation of the performance violated freedom of conscience and artistic freedom. The Constitutional Court dismissed it at the preliminary review stage in March the same year, saying the petition did not meet statutory requirements and the defects could not be remedied.