K-Pop Star Lee Mu-jin's Rehearsal Halted by Staff Misconduct

K-Pop singer Lee Mu-jin faced an unexpected halt during a rehearsal at an event in Cheonan, as a staff member's inappropriate behavior led to the abrupt cancellation of his performance, igniting widespread controversy.

A video capturing the incident quickly circulated online, raising allegations of 'staff misconduct.' As fans' outrage grew, the event organizers issued an official apology and further statements to address the situation. In response, Lee Mu-jin's agency announced plans for a strong response.

The incident occurred on the 4th of this month during the rehearsal for the opening ceremony of the '2025 Cheonan K-Culture Expo.' While Lee Mu-jin was conducting a sound check with a brief song, a staff member suddenly interrupted, saying, "Alright, let's stop here. What is this? We'll give you time to adjust the sound during the performance. The next team is waiting, so we'll end it here."

Spectators at the scene were visibly shocked by the sudden turn of events, with some even booing the organizers. Lee Mu-jin appeared taken aback and quickly exited the stage.

The footage spread rapidly across social media and online communities, fueling the controversy. The staff member's informal language and authoritative demeanor were heavily criticized, with many calling it "rude and unprofessional." Criticism of the organizers' management soon followed.

In their initial official statement, the organizers acknowledged, "An unfortunate incident occurred due to communication issues among the staff during the opening ceremony rehearsal," and offered a "sincere apology to Lee Mu-jin, his fans, and the audience." They further explained that the staff member had personally apologized to the artist and related parties immediately after the incident, and that the event management agency and the staff member received a strong warning and training.

Despite the apology, the controversy persisted. Consequently, Lee Mu-jin's agency, Big Planet Made Entertainment, issued an official statement on the 5th, expressing "deep regret over the inappropriate behavior and rude response of the on-site staff during the rehearsal." They announced plans for a strong response against the event organizers and management company, citing the seriousness of the issue and the need to protect their artist.

The agency further stated, "We will take all necessary measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring again," and pledged to "ensure that the artist can work in a safe and respectful environment."

As the controversy grew, the organizers released a second apology on the afternoon of the 5th, stating, "The city of Cheonan has issued a strong warning and conducted internal training with the event management agency, and the agency has immediately dismissed the staff member from the event management division." They also reiterated their "sincere apologies to Lee Mu-jin, his fans, and all the spectators who attended the event."