PPP slams Kim Min-seok for 'gapjil' stage intrusion at singer's festival performance

Floor spokesperson Choi Su-jin warns that 'seizing another's microphone ends in a forced exit'

Democratic Party leader draws fire after taking stage during singer's set at North Jeolla Province festival

The People Power Party on Sunday criticized Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok for "violently encroaching on citizens' daily lives and the realm of popular culture" after he took the stage during a singer's performance at a local festival.

PPP floor spokesperson Choi Su-jin said in a statement that Kim "staged an absurd spectacle by forcibly halting a singer's performance and barging onto the stage at a local festival," adding that the invited singer "had been in the middle of a passionate performance when she was abruptly cut off and had to retreat from the stage as Kim appeared."

Choi said the incident represented "the height of arrogance — an attempt to place even citizens' precious right to enjoy culture under the boot of power." The emcee introduced Kim as "a huge fan of the singer" before he seized the microphone, only to use it to name-drop "Minister Chung Dong-young's hometown" and "Lawmaker Park Hee-seung's constituency." "He turned a festival that citizens should enjoy into a campaign rally to plaster the names of his own party's politicians," she said.

Choi said audience members and internet users had "poured out their anger," calling Kim's conduct "disrespectful to the singer," "gapjil by a party leader" and "dictator-style behavior." She said the episode was "a raw glimpse of how a power-drunk figure with a sense of entitlement treats the public as nothing more than a trivial prop."

She also linked the incident to moves to impeach Chief Justice Jo Hee-dae, saying the "arrogant attitude that shook the rule of law by threatening to impeach the chief justice is now violently encroaching on citizens' everyday lives and popular culture."

Choi closed by demanding that Kim "immediately kneel before the audience and apologize for ruining the festival and insulting the stage," and warned that "the only end awaiting a power that recklessly seizes another's microphone is a miserable forced exit — dragged off the stage by an enraged public."

According to the YouTube channel Sinhotdeung TV, Kim attended the opening ceremony of the 21st Sunchang Jang Festival in Sunchang, North Jeolla Province, on Thursday.

The incident stirred controversy after singer HYNN (Park Hye-won) finished a song and was preparing for her next number when the emcee took the stage and introduced Kim as "a fan in the audience." HYNN stepped aside briefly, and Kim proceeded to deliver remarks from the stage.

shindw@heraldcorp.com