Singer Lee Mujin reportedly experienced rude behavior from a staff member during the rehearsal for the '2025 Cheonan K-Culture Expo' opening ceremony, leading the organizers to eventually issue an official apology.
On the 4th, as Lee Mujin was conducting a pre-rehearsal for the opening ceremony stage, he was forcibly interrupted by a staff member who said in a blunt tone, 'Stop it. What are you doing?' This staff member shouted, 'I will give time to adjust the sound during your performance. The next team is waiting,' and Lee Mujin could not hide his embarrassment.
The scene was filmed by audience members present at the venue and quickly spread on social media. Fans criticized the event's management, saying it was 'rude behavior' and questioned, 'Is this how we treat artists?' Furthermore, the expo organizers warned through an announcement that 'Photos and videos taken during the rehearsal must not be uploaded on social media,' which appeared to be an attempt to cover up the controversy and invited further criticism.
Ultimately, the 2025 Cheonan K-Culture Expo Organizing Committee issued an official statement on the 5th, acknowledging that 'an unfortunate incident occurred due to communication issues among the on-site staff.' They stated, 'The staff member has apologized politely to the artist and related personnel, and we have implemented strong warnings and internal training to prevent such situations from reoccurring in the future.'
However, this apology did not satisfy the fans. Internet users expressed their dissatisfaction, saying, 'I am not sure if this apology is a sincere one,' 'I hope it was a genuine apology rather than a formal one in response to complaints,' 'We shouldn't make unreasonable demands,' and 'This statement lacks the five Ws. Is this the true face of K-Culture Expo?' They questioned, 'If this is handled so carelessly, who will come and enjoy the upcoming local festival?'
Below is the full text of the 2025 Cheonan K-Culture Expo's statement.
2025 Cheonan K-Culture Expo
An unfortunate incident occurred due to communication issues among the on-site staff during the rehearsal for the congratulatory performance at the opening ceremony, and we sincerely apologize to the audience and fans.
After the incident, the staff member politely apologized to the artist and related personnel, and we have conducted strong warnings and internal training for the event management agency and the staff to prevent such situations from occurring in the future.
Once again, we sincerely apologize to the artist, fans, and guests who were present at the venue for the inconvenience caused.
- From the K-Culture Expo Organizing Committee -
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