South Korean President Declares Martial Law, Halting Year-End Award Shows

In a surprising turn of events, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law late on the 3rd, leading to the abrupt halt of the year-end award shows by the country's three major broadcasting networks.

Multiple entertainment industry insiders confirmed to TenAsia on the 4th that they received urgent notifications about the cancellation of these award shows. This information is being rapidly communicated to artists who were scheduled to appear. Additionally, many entertainment companies have instructed their employees to work from home as part of emergency measures.

The situation is similar for local festivals and events. Major entertainment companies have been informed that events scheduled from today are canceled until further notice. The emergency communication highlights the difficulty of holding local festivals or events under martial law.

An industry insider stated, "Holding events during martial law could lead to unforeseen consequences," indicating the necessity of canceling schedules. The cancellation of events and festivals organized by local governments seems inevitable.

The music industry is particularly on high alert. With no entertainment company having planned year-end concerts or fan meetings, they are closely monitoring the situation. A representative from one entertainment company mentioned, "We are observing the situation in real-time," describing it as an "extreme emergency."

While year-end concerts and large gatherings are not directly prohibited under martial law, as they are unrelated to political assemblies, the martial law command's statement on the 3rd only banned political activities such as those by the National Assembly, local councils, political parties, and political gatherings. There are no restrictions on large gatherings.

However, the potential for this martial law situation to lead to social unrest cannot be ignored. The immediate closure of the National Assembly and potential public demonstrations could result in societal chaos.

Major entertainment companies are reportedly on high alert, closely monitoring the situation and maintaining emergency operations.

By Jiye Choi, TenAsia Reporter, wisdomart@tenasia.co.kr