Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, issued a public apology after drawing criticism for taking the stage during a celebratory performance at a regional festival and halting a guest singer's set.
In a post on social media on the 18th, Kim said, "During the performance at the Sunchang County festival, there was a situation for which I owe an apology to the singer and the audience." He added, "First of all, I want to say I am sorry to the singer HYNN, whose real name is Park Hye-won, and to everyone in the audience for the inconvenience."
Explaining what happened, Kim said he had declined to give remarks because the performance was underway. "I said I would not deliver a greeting since the show was in progress, and while I was looking around the venue, the host suddenly called my name and I ended up greeting the crowd," he said. "Once again, I apologize to the singer and the audience for the inconvenience," he said.
At the opening ceremony of the 21st Sunchang Jangryu Festival on the 15th, Kim had stepped onto the stage without prior notice to address the audience after the singer HYNN had performed two songs and was preparing her next number. The singer withdrew from the stage and resumed her performance only after Kim finished speaking, prompting the controversy. Criticism spread online, with many questioning whether it was appropriate for a politician to cut short a guest singer's set to deliver remarks.
The People Power Party described the episode as a "farcical stage intrusion" and launched a barrage of criticism. In a statement the same day, Choi Soo-jin, the party's chief floor spokesperson, said, "The guest singer, in the middle of an impassioned performance, was forced to retreat from the stage as if chased away by the abrupt interruption and Kim's appearance." She added that the Democratic Party had turned a festival meant for citizens to enjoy into a campaign opportunity for its own politicians. She also said, "Power that carelessly snatches away someone else's microphone ends only in a miserable forced exit."