The official return of singer Hwang Young-woong to the festival has ultimately fallen through. He was scheduled to perform at the Gangjin Celadon Festival in Jeollanam-do, but his appearance was abruptly canceled due to fierce backlash from local residents.
Hwang Young-woong was originally listed in the lineup for the 'Sound of Celadon Concert', an event of the 54th Gangjin Celadon Festival, which is set to take place on February 28. His agency, Golden Voice, also announced his appearance through the fan cafe on the 22nd, hinting at an official resumption of activities.
However, the situation changed drastically within a day. As soon as the casting news was reported, criticism erupted on the Gangjin County Office website and within the local community. There were protests questioning, "Is it appropriate to invite a singer with a history of school violence to a festival funded by taxpayer money?" and "This could damage the clean image of Gangjin County."
Ultimately, the Gangjin County authorities decided to retract Hwang Young-woong's casting in response to the backlash from residents and public opinion. Thus, Hwang Young-woong's plans to signal his return to activities have once again been put on hold.
Hwang Young-woong was a strong candidate for the MBN show 'Burning Trotman' in 2023, but he stepped down due to past controversies involving school violence and personal life, taking time for self-reflection. This incident has confirmed that negative public sentiment remains strong, making future activities challenging.
