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| Singer Jeon In-kwon / Korea Times file |
By Ko Dong-hwan
Entertainers have joined anti-president protesters who have staged massive rallies in central Seoul.
The entertainers are protesting on stage or as individuals.
Singer Jeon In-kwon performed on Saturday night at Gwanghwamun Square in front of about 600,000 protesters, who demanded President Park Geun-hye step down after she allegedly allowed longtime friend Choi Soon-sil to meddle in state affairs.
Jeon, 62, a vocalist from seasoned folk rock band Deulgukhwa, sang the band's 2004 hit "Don't Worry, My Dear" as the crowd sang along with candles in their hands.
"The world is watching us, so let us make this protest the most damn-respectable candlelit peace protest ever," Jeon said.
He also sang Korea's national anthem with the crowd singing along facing Cheong Wa Dae, the presidential house, a few hundred meters away.
Jeon advised the audience, "If Park Sa Mo ― a conservative civic group of people supporting Park ― hit you or yell at you for your political stance, just walk away and ignore them."
His comment came after about 10,000 members of Park Sa Mo demonstrated at Seoul Station earlier the day in opposition to the planned Gwanghwamun Square protest.
Singer Lee Seung-hwan joined an anti-president rally on Nov. 12, singing his hit songs in front of more than one million people at Gwanghwamun Square.
The veteran vocalist, 51, said he regretted he was not on the government's controversial blacklist of artists critical of the government and that he would do what he could to be listed.
In October, the media revealed that Cheong Wa Dae had blacklisted 9,473 Korean artists who had expressed opposition to government policies or supported opposition politicians.
Cheong Wa Dae allegedly ordered related state agencies to disadvantage the artists in providing financial or other support.
"My mind and body are sick these days. It feels like President Park somehow harassed me," Lee said. He also said he was "on the people's side, not politicians" and urged opposition party lawmakers to keep looking after the people.
Punk band Crying Nut also heated up the atmosphere the same day byperforming its No.1 hit "Run the Horse."
Comediennes Kim Mi-hwa and variety show host Kim Jae-dong, both well-known for publicly expressing opposition to Cheong Wa Dae, stood in front of the crowds the same day, demanding that Park step down.
Some entertainers were seen joining in the protests as individuals on Nov. 19.
Online news media Dispatch released photos of actor Yoo Ah-in raising a candlelit paper cup in the middle of protesters gathered at Gwanghwamun Square.
On the same day, singer/actor Lee Jun from K-pop boy band MBLAQ posted on Instagram a photo of himself in the middle of protesters. He is holding a balloon on which is written "Park Geun-hye out, People's hope."
"Now there are about 250,000 here in Gwanghwamun," Lee said. "I heard today's goal is 500,000. Come now, be it raining or not."
The entertainers are protesting on stage or as individuals.
Singer Jeon In-kwon performed on Saturday night at Gwanghwamun Square in front of about 600,000 protesters, who demanded President Park Geun-hye step down after she allegedly allowed longtime friend Choi Soon-sil to meddle in state affairs.
Jeon, 62, a vocalist from seasoned folk rock band Deulgukhwa, sang the band's 2004 hit "Don't Worry, My Dear" as the crowd sang along with candles in their hands.
"The world is watching us, so let us make this protest the most damn-respectable candlelit peace protest ever," Jeon said.
He also sang Korea's national anthem with the crowd singing along facing Cheong Wa Dae, the presidential house, a few hundred meters away.
Jeon advised the audience, "If Park Sa Mo ― a conservative civic group of people supporting Park ― hit you or yell at you for your political stance, just walk away and ignore them."
His comment came after about 10,000 members of Park Sa Mo demonstrated at Seoul Station earlier the day in opposition to the planned Gwanghwamun Square protest.
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| Singer Lee Seung-hwan performs at an anti-president Gwanghwamun Square rally on Nov. 12. / Yonhap |
Singer Lee Seung-hwan joined an anti-president rally on Nov. 12, singing his hit songs in front of more than one million people at Gwanghwamun Square.The veteran vocalist, 51, said he regretted he was not on the government's controversial blacklist of artists critical of the government and that he would do what he could to be listed.
In October, the media revealed that Cheong Wa Dae had blacklisted 9,473 Korean artists who had expressed opposition to government policies or supported opposition politicians.
Cheong Wa Dae allegedly ordered related state agencies to disadvantage the artists in providing financial or other support.
"My mind and body are sick these days. It feels like President Park somehow harassed me," Lee said. He also said he was "on the people's side, not politicians" and urged opposition party lawmakers to keep looking after the people.
Punk band Crying Nut also heated up the atmosphere the same day by
performing its No.1 hit "Run the Horse.".jpg) |
| Variety show host Kim Jae-dong (left) and comediennes Kim Mi-hwa took to the stage during an anti-president rally at Gwanghwamun Square on Nov. 12. / Yonhap |
Comediennes Kim Mi-hwa and variety show host Kim Jae-dong, both well-known for publicly expressing opposition to Cheong Wa Dae, stood in front of the crowds the same day, demanding that Park step down.
Some entertainers were seen joining in the protests as individuals on Nov. 19.
Online news media Dispatch released photos of actor Yoo Ah-in raising a candlelit paper cup in the middle of protesters gathered at Gwanghwamun Square.
.jpg) |
| Actor Yoo Ah-in (left) and singer-actor Lee Jun joined an anti-president rally at Gwanghwamun Square on Nov. 19. / Courtesy of Twitter, Instagram |
On the same day, singer/actor Lee Jun from K-pop boy band MBLAQ posted on Instagram a photo of himself in the middle of protesters. He is holding a balloon on which is written "Park Geun-hye out, People's hope."
"Now there are about 250,000 here in Gwanghwamun," Lee said. "I heard today's goal is 500,000. Come now, be it raining or not."
