With Gumi concert canceled, singer Lee Seung-hwan mulls playing Gwangju

Days after Gumi City Hall canceled singer Lee Seung-hwan's Christmas Day concert in the city, prompting criticism that the decision was politically motivated, Gwangju Mayor Kang Ki-jung stepped in to suggest Lee hold a gig in his city.

In response, Lee said he "looks forward to performing in Gwangju," referring to the city as a "holy land of democracy."

This comes after Gumi Mayor Kim Jang-ho on Monday announced that the singer's concert had been canceled, saying the city had informed the concert organizers earlier in the day. Originally slated for Wednesday at the Gumi Art Center, the concert was part of the singer's 35th anniversary tour, "Heaven."

Lee's concert was abruptly called off due to "safety concerns" amid a backlash among conservatives following the singer's performance near the National Assembly in Yeouido on Dec. 13 at a rally calling for President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment.

Denouncing the singer for expressing views on social and political issues, some 13 conservative civic groups staged protests in front of Gumi City Hall last Thursday, urging the city to cancel his concert.

Amid the ongoing row, Gwangju's Mayor Kang made the suggestion in a Facebook post late Tuesday.

"Let's do the concert in Gwangju. We invite Lee Seung-hwan to Gwangju. How absurd must the martial law order have been to teenagers who support K-pop, driving them to take to the streets with light sticks? The energy that keeps us going is K-pop," he said.

Lee commented on the post, saying that he looks forward to performing there. He added that a representative of a music company he works with would contact the mayor to organize the event.