They Paid 15,000 Won — and Stood Through the Show: North Jeolla Province-Hosted Performance Left Audiences Seatless

Audiences had to watch the performance standing despite paying an admission fee of at least 15,000 won, experience program included. The incident occurred at a paid performance co-hosted by Gimje City and North Jeolla Province on the 4th, after seats fell short. It happened as the show got underway with the number of prepared seats failing to match the size of the paying audience.

On the 4th, the plaza in front of the hyanggyo, the old Confucian school, in Gimje, North Jeolla Province, was covered with tents, blocking entry. A space normally open to everyone had been turned into a paid event venue accessible only to ticket holders.

As the start of the performance drew near, an announcement came over the speakers informing attendees that chairs were in short supply and they would have to watch standing. An official said about 250 chairs had been prepared but proved insufficient. A considerable number of spectators were left without seats.

Nowhere in the performance brochure was there any mention of standing-room viewing.

Lee Hyun-seo, deputy mayor of Gimje, who visited the scene, said, "We will look into the seating issue and the reservation process."