Entertainment industry faces crisis as nationwide event cancellations surge after martial law declared

As President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law late in the afternoon on December 3, reports indicate that festivals and events across the country are being canceled one after another. 

There are even concerns within the entertainment industry about whether year-end concerts and other events will proceed as planned. Some are calling this the entertainment industry’s worst crisis heading into the year-end and New Year period.

According to reports on December 3, major entertainment agencies are contacting their artists, instructing them not to attend scheduled events starting tomorrow, December 4. The emergency notifications cite the difficulties of holding regional festivals and events under martial law. An industry insider stated, “Holding an event in these circumstances could lead to unforeseen trouble,” confirming the cancellation of schedules. The cancellation of festivals and events hosted by local governments seems inevitable.

The bigger issue lies with privately organized events such as concerts, fan meetings, and other activities planned by entertainment companies. The entertainment industry is on high alert, as there is no precedent for how to respond to martial law, with the last instance dating back to 1980. One agency CEO remarked, “We are monitoring the situation in real-time,” describing it as an “extreme emergency.”

Major entertainment agencies are reportedly on high alert and maintaining emergency operations as they closely observe the current situation.

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