Controversy Surrounds Last-Minute Cancellation of 'Life of Pi' Starring Park Jung-min

The highly anticipated play 'Life of Pi,' featuring actor Park Jung-min, was abruptly canceled just five minutes before it was set to begin, leaving audiences disappointed and sent home without explanation. The official apology was issued a staggering four hours later, drawing criticism for the lack of prompt communication.

The cancellation has sparked debate over Park Jung-min's responsibility in the matter. Some have compared the situation to a 2020 incident involving the musical 'Ghost,' where lead actor Joo Won personally addressed the audience after a technical issue led to a cancellation. Critics argue that Park's response was lacking in comparison.

However, industry insiders defend Park, stating, "Actors are only informed of decisions made by the production team and are not responsible for technical failures or cancellations." Many believe that Park Jung-min is unfairly bearing the brunt of the backlash due to the production's poor handling of the situation.

The incident occurred on the evening of November 10 at the GS Art Center in Gangnam, Seoul, where 'Life of Pi' was scheduled to be performed. The cancellation was attributed to technical issues with some equipment, but the audience was left in the dark with no immediate explanation or apology, only a refund notice.

The apology was finally posted at 11:10 PM, over four hours after the cancellation. The official 'Life of Pi' social media account shared a brief statement explaining that unexpected lighting issues led to the decision to cancel for safety reasons.

The production company expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to the audience and promised to provide refund procedures via text message to ticket holders.

Despite the apology, many audience members felt the response was inadequate. Reports indicate that the announcement of the delay was made at 7:05 PM, but the cancellation notice was not clearly communicated, leaving many in the theater unaware of the situation.

Refunds have not appeased all attendees, with some arguing that a simple refund does not compensate for the inconvenience, especially for those who traveled from afar. There are calls for the performance to be rescheduled with the same seating arrangements and curtain call privileges.

The canceled performance was particularly significant as it featured Park Jung-min, whose popularity surged following the Blue Dragon Film Awards last November. The show was sold out, including VIP seats, and allowed curtain call photography from November 10 to 13, adding to the disappointment.

'Life of Pi' is based on Yann Martel's novel, depicting the 227-day journey of a boy named Pi and a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker stranded on a lifeboat in the Pacific Ocean. The play is making its debut in South Korea and is scheduled to run until March 2.

By Dayeon Jeong, TenAsia Reporter light@tenasia.co.kr