Singer chokes back tears in front of unruly audience

By Ko Dong-hwan

Singer Hong Jin-young, well known for being witty and her frequent appearances on TV variety shows, cried in front of fans on stage, according to a recent YouTube video.

The

five-minute video posted on Sept. 21

shows the artist on a street stage on Sept. 15 and seemingly not knowing what to do.

Host Cho Young-gu appears to tell the audience that Hong will have to leave the stage unless audience members in a certain section “keep the order to maintain the seating peacefully.”

But despite his mild warning, angry noise continued, with audience members shouting at the people in the problem area to “sit down.” Other fans are heard shouting at the singer to hurry up and get on with the show.

Hong, performing at a minor concert on cafe-concentrated Bangbae-dong Street in Seocho-gu in Seoul, mostly remains biting down on her lips while Cho chastises the audience for not staying seated. From time to time he talks with an event staff member on stage.

Cho eventually tells the audience that the performance ― the popular trot vocalist had already performed two numbers ― must halt because of security reasons. Two people had already been hurt due to the disorder, he said.

“If she continues with the gig, there would be headlines tomorrow saying two people injured during Hong's gig,” Cho told the audience. “We don't want to see that, do we?”

Cho tells Hong to step down the stage but the artist seems uneasy about leaving her fans. The teary-eyed singer apologizes to the audience for unexpectedly ending the show.

“I have done many events but never encountered a situation like this,” Hong told the audience.