Singer Lee Mujin is facing controversy after it was revealed that he received rude comments from an event staff member during a rehearsal for the '2025 Cheonan K-Culture Expo' opening ceremony. His agency announced that they plan to take strong measures against this, and there is public opinion suggesting that the earlier insincere apology from the organizers has fueled further controversy.

Earlier, on the 4th, Lee Mujin was unilaterally stopped from performing during the rehearsal for the '2025 Cheonan K-Culture Expo' by a staff member, who raised his voice, saying, "I will give you time to adjust the sound during the performance. The next team is waiting."

The flustered expression of Lee Mujin was captured on the cameras of the audience present, and the video quickly spread through social media, eliciting public outrage. Furthermore, the event organizers announced over the PA system during the rehearsal, "Do not upload photos and videos from the site to social media," raising suspicions that they were trying to cover up the incident.

As the controversy intensified, the organizers belatedly issued an official apology, stating, "An unpleasant incident occurred due to a communication issue among the staff," but even this apology did not calm the anger of the fans.

Netizens responded with sharp reactions, saying, "I wonder if this apology is sincere," "I hope it's a genuine apology rather than a formal one in response to the protests," "One should not act arrogantly," "This is a poorly written statement lacking the basics of journalism. Is this really the true face of the K-Culture Expo?", and "If this is how casually it is addressed, who would come to enjoy the upcoming local festival?" Ultimately, there have been criticisms that the insincere apology only added fuel to the controversy.

Lee Mujin could not remain silent. In an official statement on the 5th, Lee Mujin's agency, Big Planet Made Entertainment, emphasized, "We are deeply sorry for the inappropriate comments and rude responses directed at Lee Mujin by the staff during the rehearsal on the day of the event. We recognize the seriousness of this matter and will take strong measures against the event organizers and the managing company to protect our artist." It also stated, "We will take all necessary actions to ensure that similar incidents do not occur in the future," and added, "We apologize to the fans for the inconvenience. We will do our utmost to ensure that the artist can work in a safe and respectful environment."

Some voices of self-reflection are growing, stating, "Basic courtesy and respect at the event site is the starting point for protecting artists." Although Lee Mujin successfully completed the main performance, this incident once again highlighted the need for improvement in the overall performance culture.

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