Companies Reportedly Tell Artists Not To Attend Scheduled Events After Martial Law Declaration — Industry On “Alert”

Entertainment industry events are slated to be canceled in the coming days.

On Tuesday, December 3, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared “emergency martial law” via a televised briefing, promising to “eradicate pro-North Korean forces and protect the constitutional democratic order.” He accused his country’s “opposition of controlling the parliament,” “sympathizing” with North Korea, and immobilizing the government through anti-state actions.

This announcement has reportedly put the entertainment industry on “high alert” and led to the cancelation of many events on December 3, according to a report by 10Asia. According to an exclusive report, major entertainment agencies have notified their artists not to attend scheduled events starting December 4th.

Under martial law, assembly, or gathering, is restricted—likely the reason for entertainment company concerns.

Holding an event under martial law could lead to unforeseen consequences.

— Industry Insider

These concerns extend to private events such as concerts, fan meetings, and company-led events, as there is no previous precedent. The CEO of an entertainment company reportedly shared that, “We are monitoring the situation in real-time,” and described it as “an emergency situation.”

As of writing there have been no official announcements from any companies.