Itaewon Tragedy Mourning Period Performance Cancellations ... What Are Your Thoughts?

Concerts by singers including Lee Moon-sae canceled one after another
Some musicians say "Performances are also a way of mourning"

Music critic Bae Soon-tak. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] As performances continue to be canceled following the Itaewon tragedy, musicians have been making a series of candid statements. After the government designated a national mourning period until the 5th, public institutions and private organizations have been canceling events one after another, prompting responses from artists. Some experts emphasized that comfort can also be provided through performances.

Music critic and writer Bae Soon-tak wrote on his Instagram on the 1st, "This is a country where popular music is always the first to be tabooed." Bae said, "Don’t even say that you find comfort in music when you are sad. We must rightfully go through a period of mourning. However, the way we mourn is different for each of us. It is natural to be different. I hope no one forces a particular way of mourning."

Earlier, singer-songwriter Saenggak-ui Yeoreum (real name Park Jong-hyun) also posted on his Instagram on the 31st of last month, saying, "The planners of two performances scheduled for this week politely asked whether to proceed or postpone." He continued, "After much consideration, we decided to proceed as planned." He added, "It seems that, from the perspective of government agencies, artistic work is synonymous with entertainment and amusement." He further stated, "Seeing the government uniformly shutting down only art-related events in the name of mourning made me feel even more determined to carry out the scheduled performances." He also said, "For those whose profession is performing, not performing as well as performing can both be ways of mourning," and added, "I am reconsidering and refining the repertoire I was going to perform."

Another musician expressed a similar opinion. Jazz pianist and singer-songwriter Jung Won-young wrote on his Instagram on the 1st, "Do we have to cancel all performances?" and asked, "Is there any comfort and mourning better than music?" In response to Jung’s opinion, a musician commented, "Social homicides such as industrial accidents, drunk driving accidents, and extreme choices happen almost daily, yet it is somewhat bitter that people only react when there is a big issue and try to measure the weight of tears."

Lyricist, composer, producer, and pop drummer Park Ga-eul also expressed sympathy, saying, "It is unfortunate that such measures are taken out of fear of one perspective that views art only as music."

Experts suggested that comfort can also be provided through performances. Cultural critic Jung Deok-hyun said, "Canceling performances can be a way of mourning, but it is also possible to mourn while performing." He added, "Artistic acts are not simply amusement or entertainment. We can receive comfort through performances." He further stated, "Stopping performances because the social atmosphere forces mourning does not seem desirable."

Currently, the performance industry has canceled major popular music concerts scheduled for this month one after another. The co-ed group Koyote postponed their nationwide tour Seoul concert, which was to be held on the 5th and 6th at Sejong University Daeyang Hall, to January 7th and 8th next year. Singer Baek Ji-young also canceled her nationwide tour concert in Cheongju on the 5th, and Jang Min-ho decided not to hold his solo concert at the Olympic Hall in Seoul Olympic Park from the 4th to the 6th. Sung Si-kyung plans to proceed with his year-end concert scheduled for the 23rd to 25th of next month but postponed the ticket reservation schedule to express his condolences.

Lee Moon-sae also canceled his concert scheduled in Dangjin, Chungnam. On the 1st, Lee posted on Instagram, "Due to the unfortunate accident and the declaration of the national mourning period, the 2022 Theatre Leemoonsae Dangjin concert scheduled for the 4th and 5th has been canceled. I ask for the understanding of the audience who were looking forward to the performance." Pop star Michael Bolton also postponed his first Korean tour in eight years, originally scheduled for the 8th and 9th of this month, to January next year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.