[theqoo/instiz] PARTY LEADER KWON YEONG-GUK "BTS' GWANGHWAMUN CONCERT, INCONVENIENCE FOR CITIZENS, PROFITS FOR PRIVATE COMPANIES" (ft. STREET MERCH)

Amid controversy over the concert being held in Gwanghwamun to commemorate BTS’s first full-group comeback in four years, which is causing public inconvenience due to excessive restrictions, Kwon Yeong-guk, leader of the Justice Party, asked the Seoul Metropolitan Government, “Is it really right that citizens bear the inconvenience while private companies reap the profits?”

On the 19th, Kwon Yeong-guk, leader of the Justice Party, posted on his personal social media, “I sincerely congratulate the BTS members on their comeback after a 3-year, 9-month hiatus due to military service. I have high expectations for BTS’s new song, which once again offers young people around the world the courage to live through beautiful lyrics filled with self-respect and comfort.”

He continued, “However, it is also true that there are various controversies and concerns surrounding the planning of this concert and the safety measures. I hear that 31 buildings near the square are scheduled to be cordoned off, meaning some merchants will inevitably have to suspend business over the weekend. While I fully understand that these are measures to prevent accidents caused by large crowds, it is hard to shake the feeling that citizens’ ordinary daily lives are being excessively restricted for a concert that begins on Saturday evening.”

The civic group Workplace Bullying 119 reported that it has been receiving a steady stream of complaints from employees at companies located around Gwanghwamun, alleging that their employers are forcing them to use their annual leave ahead of BTS’s comeback concert on the 21st. Many employees reported receiving instructions to use up all their annual leave at once, citing the difficulty of commuting due to traffic restrictions on the day of the event. According to the Labor Standards Act, companies cannot force employees to take annual leave. There have also been a series of consultations regarding situations where employees are unable to work on their scheduled days due to the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s building restrictions near the concert venue and business suspensions caused by crowds on the day of the concert.

Reports also indicate that traffic restrictions around Gwanghwamun are causing delays in parcel deliveries throughout the Jongno-gu area. Traffic in the vicinity of Gwanghwamun will be restricted for up to 33 hours, starting the day before the event and continuing through the 22nd. Major subway stations such as Gwanghwamun, City Hall, and Gyeongbokgung Station will be bypassed without stopping, and some entrances and exits will be inaccessible. The public bicycle service “Ttareungyi” will temporarily close 58 rental stations in the Gwanghwamun, Jongno, City Hall, and Myeongdong areas. Six buildings adjacent to the plaza will also close their main entrances. Additionally, approximately 6,500 police officers and 99 fire trucks and ambulances will be mobilized for this performance.

CEO Kwon Yeong-kook stated, “I have to ask whether the Seoul Metropolitan Government went through a process of explaining the situation or seeking understanding from the citizens, workers, and merchants who will face inconvenience due to these restrictions.” He added, “The revenue generated directly and indirectly through this performance is expected to be concentrated in HYBE, the production company, and Netflix, which holds the exclusive live streaming rights. “It is a structure where citizens bear the inconvenience while private companies reap the profits. I cannot help but question whether it is truly right for a performance held in a public space to be open only to ticket-holding spectators,” he said.

He also pointed out, “As Seoul continues to evolve into a global city, I believe events like this concert will become more frequent. It is time to have answers to these questions: Whose city is Seoul? What form should cultural events held in public spaces take? Was there no way to create an event where citizens, workers, small business owners, and fans could all come together? We must have answers to these questions for the sake of a city that coexists.”

Finally, he added, “We need policies to compensate merchants who are forced to suspend business at the city level and to ensure wage protection for hourly workers,” and suggested, “We should also consider a ‘profit-sharing system’ that encourages a certain percentage of the proceeds from large-scale downtown events to be contributed to a ‘Cultural Diversity Fund’ and used for public benefit.”

Meanwhile, this concert has sparked controversy over whether it is being used as a campaign tool, coinciding with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon’s mayoral bid. The controversy arose after the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced it would deploy excessive manpower for BTS’s Gwanghwamun concert and revealed plans to illuminate landmarks across Seoul, including Seoul Tower and the World Cup Bridge, in “red,” the symbolic color of the People Power Party, rather than the group’s traditional “purple.” In response, Big Hit Music, a subsidiary of BTS’s agency HYBE, issued a statement on the 18th explaining, “The red color used for the Gwanghwamun Square concert is the key color of their fifth studio album ‘Arirang,’ which is set to be released on the 20th. The Seoul Metropolitan Government is also utilizing the red color at HYBE’s request.”

original post: here

1. For real

2. To be honest, he's right

3. Don't even take 1 won from this concert and donate all the money

4. They wouldn't even go that far even if Taylor Swift came to Korea

5. The politicians are coming forward once again

6. Well said

7. I thought that our President was doing good work but I'm quite disappointed by this...

8. He's completely right

9. For real, they should donate back everything they made

10. Seriously, why are we spending taxpayer money to help a private company make a profit? Especially when its CEO is facing allegations of stock price manipulation?

[theqoo] CURRENT SITUATION AT GWANGHWAMUN SQUARE FOR THE BTS PERFORMANCE

Who was saying that they were blocking the roads?

original post: here

1. Even during the Busan concert, TheQoo was making a fuss and was hating on Bangtan every day

2. That thing they put up in front of the palace is so weird....

3. But why are you bashing them? Is there a reason you're bashing them? I'm seriously asking because I don't know

4. What's worse is that aesthetically, it looks horrible

5. For how many days are you guys planning to hate on them? Seeing all this hate is so exhausting

6. But just looking at this f*cking tires me... they are just such a legendary nuisance

7. What on earth is HYBE doing to all these administrations? It doesn't seem to be an issue with any specific administration, either

8. But I don't want to see thisㅜ

9. But they are already making such a fuss. What a nuisance

10. The hate is seriously crossing the line. I'm fascinating at how much energy you guys have to hate on others..

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