Sex-scandal singer's 'Mozart!' role angers fans

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Sex-scandal singer's 'Mozart!' role angers fans

'성매매 혐의 이수의 뮤지컬 데뷔를 반대한다'

Posted : 2016-04-07 16:51

Updated : 2016-04-07 17:20

Lee Soo from "Mozart!" poster

By Ko Dong-hwan

Singer Lee Soo, who was involved in a sex scandal in 2009, faces an online signature campaign against his lead role in a coming musical.

Lee is scheduled to appear in

EMK Musical Company's production of "Mozart!" that opens in June.

The "Signature campaign demanding singer Lee Soo step down from the musical Mozart!" was posted on Twitter Tuesday.

"Lee Soo, whose charge of indulging in underage prostitution was suspended by the court, has been cast as the musical's male lead," the campaign said. "As to the matter, we welcome all who agree with our initiative and will request the company cancel his role."

The vocalist from rock band MC the Max admitted that in December 2009, while doing mandatory military service, he had sex with a girl, 17, who ran away from home. He paid her 400,000 won ($346) each of the three times they had sex. During an investigation, he told police he did not know that she was underage.

In May 2010, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office suspended the indictment against him and ordered him to complete a sex-education course.

Media reports said Lee was interested in performing in a musical and had asked the company for an audition. The company thought his skills would fit the musical's difficult numbers and, on Tuesday, decided to hire him along with three others for the role, "taking account of his past crime, and willing to face the consequences of hiring the ex-criminal," according to DongA Ilbo.

"Actors and producers have habitually mentioned that a musical stage is holy," the paper said. "It is questionable whether they actually think so (after hiring Lee)."

'성매매 혐의 이수의 뮤지컬 데뷔를 반대한다'

그룹 엠씨더맥스의 보컬 이수가 뮤지컬 “모차르트!”에 캐스팅 됐다는 소식에 반발한 네티즌들이 서명운동을 벌이며 그의 뮤지컬 하차를 요구하고 있다.

뮤지컬 제작사 EMK뮤지컬컴퍼니는 5일 ‘모차르트!’의 주인공으로 이지훈, 이수, 전동석, 규현이 캐스팅 됐다고 전했다.

EMK측은 “이수가 악보를 받은 지 5일 만에 오디션 현장에서 뮤지컬 대표곡을 완벽하게 소화했다”고 전하면서 “그의 오디션 영상을 본 해외 원작자들 또한 그의 음색과 표현법에 감탄했다”고 덧붙였다.

하지만 네티즌들은 이수의 과거 범죄 경력을 들며 그의 캐스팅 소식에 강력하게 반발하고 있다. 일부 네티즌들은 그의 뮤지컬 하차 서명 운동을 벌이고 있다.

이수는 2009년 12월 공익근무요원으로 근무하던 중 미성년자 성매매를 한 사실이 드러나 기소됐으나 재범방지 교육을 받는 조건으로 기소 유예됐다.

aoshima11@ktimes.com