After the implementation of Emergency Martial Law in South Korea, K-pop stars across the country are being advised to skip events and refrain from making public appearances. Reportedly, K-pop artists from major entertainment companies including HYBE, JYP, and SM Entertainment are receiving calls to refrain from attending events starting December 4.
K-Pop stars to cancel events?
K-pop artists might have to take a forced hiatus from public events. According to reports in TenAsia, the announcement of Martial Law implementation has put the entertainment industry on ‘high alert’ and led to the cancelation of many events on December 3. PopBase reported that major entertainment agencies have notified their artists not to attend scheduled events starting December 4th. One industry insider told TenAsia, “It’s impossible to predict what could happen if an event is held during martial law,”
Local government organised events and festivals are also expected to be called off, but private events are more tricky. Live concerts, fan meetings, and activities planned by entertainment companies are under threat of being cancelled. There are no recent precedents to plan the response of entertainment companies as the last martial law declaration in South Korea happened in 1980.
A representative from one entertainment company told the publication, "We’re closely monitoring the situation in real-time. This is an unprecedented crisis for us."
Why has South Korea declared emergency martial law?
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law on Tuesday (December 3) . In a televised address to the nation, he said, "I declare martial law to protect the free Republic of Korea from the imminent threat of North Korean communist forces, to eliminate the treacherous pro-North Korean elements that endanger the freedom and happiness of our citizens, and to uphold our free constitutional order."