"Deceived by the Poster": Tae Jin-ah & BANK Pull Out, KINTEX Cancels — The Complete Collapse of Jeon Han-gil's March 1st Freedom Concert
The '3·1 Independence Day Freedom Concert' organized by YouTuber Jeon Han-gil has effectively collapsed. Performers including Tae Jin-ah and BANK withdrew one after another, saying they "didn't know it was a far-right political event," KINTEX canceled the venue booking under pressure from the Gyeonggi Province governor, and Jeon Han-gil is now pressuring Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon to provide an alternative venue.
⚠️ Image Unavailable: No officially licensed images directly related to this topic could be obtained. As a privately organized event, Jeon Han-gil's concert has no official press release images, and the use of copyrighted images such as YouTube thumbnails was deliberately avoided. Please refer to the reference links at the bottom of this article to view the original footage.
Why You Should Care Now: As of February 27 — just 2 days before the March 1st Independence Movement Day — Jeon Han-gil's 'Freedom Concert' has become an empty shell with no venue and no performers. This incident goes beyond a mere concert controversy, exposing simultaneously the politicization of far-right YouTubers, the debate over public venue booking authority, and the unauthorized use of celebrity names.
TL;DR
- The '3·1 Independence Day Freedom Concert' (March 2, KINTEX) organized by Jeon Han-gil collapsed in three stages: unauthorized use of celebrity names → mass performer withdrawals → venue cancellation.
- Tae Jin-ah, BANK, soprano Jung Chan-hee, and others announced their withdrawal one after another, saying "we didn't know it was a far-right political event." Tae Jin-ah even threatened legal action.
- Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon, while on an overseas trip, personally called KINTEX President Lee Min-woo to demand venue cancellation, which KINTEX immediately accepted.
- Jeon Han-gil is pressuring Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon with blunt language — "Are you right-wing or left-wing?" — demanding an alternative venue in Seoul.
- There has been strong social backlash against the attempt to use the Independence Movement Day (a national holiday) for a political rally.
🔍 The Facts: What Happened
Stage 1 — Unauthorized Use of Names and Performer Backlash
Jeon Han-gil (head of the YouTube channel 'Jeon Han-gil News') organized a '3·1 Independence Day Freedom Concert' at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province on March 2. The problem was that celebrity names were listed on the promotional poster without prior consent.
- Tae Jin-ah: Saw the poster, verified the facts, announced withdrawal and threatened legal action
- BANK: Immediately cut ties, saying they were not informed of the political nature of the event in advance
- Soprano Jung Chan-hee: Expressed intention not to participate
- Jeong Min-chan: Officially withdrew, citing "unauthorized use of poster"
- Former announcer Lee Jae-yong: Canceled appearance
With most performers pulling out, reports emerged that the ticket pre-sale rate had fallen to below 10% at one point.
Stage 2 — KINTEX Venue Cancellation
On the evening of February 23, Governor Kim Dong-yeon personally called KINTEX President Lee Min-woo while on an overseas trip. He urged cancellation of the booking, saying "We cannot allow the 'Yoon Again' forces to run rampant," and KINTEX immediately accepted the request. Claims also emerged that Jeon Han-gil's side had obtained the booking through a false application.
Jeon Han-gil responded by announcing he would take legal action against Governor Kim Dong-yeon for "abuse of authority."
Stage 3 — Pressuring Oh Se-hoon and the Battle Over an Alternative Seoul Venue
With KINTEX blocked, Jeon Han-gil turned his attention to Seoul. During a YouTube livestream, he demanded that Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon "let us hold the performance in Seoul," using blunt, informal language and asking "Are you right-wing or left-wing?" Mayor Oh Se-hoon is reported to have not responded, and as of February 27, it remains unclear whether the event will be held.
💡 Why This Issue Went Viral
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Exploitation of March 1st | Symbolic backlash against using the Independence Movement commemoration day for a political rally |
| Unauthorized use of celebrity names | Public outrage over the use of famous names without consent |
| Governor vs. YouTuber | Controversy over a provincial governor directly intervening in a private venue booking |
| Far-right politicization debate | Seen as an attempt by a YouTube-driven far-right movement to enter the institutional arena |
| Lee Jun-seok–Jeon Han-gil debate | The explosive spread of the Jeon Han-gil issue, coinciding with the February 27 election fraud debate |
🧭 Context and Background
Jeon Han-gil rose to prominence as one of the key figures of the 'Yoon Again' movement following the December 3rd martial law declaration. With millions of YouTube subscribers, he has continued to make pro-martial law and pro-insurrection statements while attempting to expand political rallies into public streets and performance venues.
March 1st is one of the most symbolically significant national holidays in Korea. It commemorates the nationwide independence movement against Japanese colonial rule in 1919, in which people across the country rose up demanding independence. The very act of attempting to use this day for a rally by a specific political faction triggered strong public aversion.
📈 Outlook: How Long Will This Issue Last?
- Short-term (March 1–3): Issue peaks around March 1st. If the event actually takes place, further controversy; if it collapses, a temporary lull as the 'collapse' narrative concludes.
- Mid-term (within March): Could reignite depending on whether Tae Jin-ah proceeds with legal action and Jeon Han-gil's complaint against Kim Dong-yeon moves forward.
- Long-term: If the pattern of far-right YouTubers pursuing 'extra-parliamentary politicization' continues, it could lead to institutional discussions about public venue booking standards and event permit procedures.
✅ Key Checklist
📎 Reference Links
- "Deceived by Jeon Han-gil"…Far-right March 1st Concert Faces Wave of Withdrawals — Yonhap News
- Jeon Han-gil Asks Oh Se-hoon: "Let Us Do It in Seoul" — Weekly Chosun
- 'Jeon Han-gil Concert' Venue Canceled…Defiant Counter-Complaint Also Filed — MBC News
- Performers Withdraw, Venue Canceled…'Jeon Han-gil Concert' Uncertain — YTN
- Who Did Jeon Han-gil Target After KINTEX Cancellation? — Channel A