Singer Lee Seung-hwan. Photo Sports Kyunghyang DB
Singer Lee Seung-hwan is moving to file an appeal after receiving no response from Gumi Mayor Kim Jang-ho, whom he had asked to apologize.
On the 14th, via social media (SNS), Lee said, “You are not offering any form of apology,” adding, “As I said, I will begin work on an appeal.”
Lee has decided to increase his legal representatives from the current two to ten (five times as many), examine loopholes in the State Compensation Act, and pursue to the end the legal responsibility of the administrative official in charge.
He described this lawsuit as “a process to leave a precedent that will contribute to the advancement of culture and the arts as a senior in the music scene,” and, addressing Mayor Kim, stressed, “This time, you must not use taxpayer money.”
After his Gumi concert, which had been scheduled for last year, was abruptly canceled two days before the performance due to remarks related to the December 3, 2024 martial-law situation, Lee filed a damages suit against the city of Gumi and Mayor Kim. The court of first instance recognized the city as liable and ordered it to pay 125 million won, but did not hold Mayor Kim personally liable.
Lee plans to focus in the appeals trial on proving the personal liability of the mayor. Mayor Kim has argued, citing the fact that a rally was planned at the venue after remarks by Lee, that the measure was to protect the safety of Gumi citizens, and he has said through his legal representative that he plans to prepare for an appeal.
