Popular Singer Claims Blacklisting After “Anti-President” Protest Performance
On May 13, Hareem shared a candid post on social media, stating that he had been abruptly informed that his appearance at a state-sponsored youth event focused on inter-Korean engagement was canceled. He believes this is retaliation for his December 2023 performance at the “Merry Resignation Christmas Democracy Lightstick Concert” in Gwanghwamun, which included anti-government songs in support of protestors.
“At a time when the wounds of martial law haven’t yet fully healed, I was suddenly notified of a cancellation just days ahead of a government-hosted event,” Hareem wrote. “The reason? Because I sang in the square last year. It seems someone felt uncomfortable about the interview that followed. I wonder—are they so guilty that even songs make them afraid?”
Though Hareem emphasized that the performance fee was minimal, he had agreed to take part in the event in good faith, especially since official posters were already made public. The late-stage cancellation, he argued, points toward something more concerning than mere scheduling issues.
“Canceling like this at the last minute can only fuel suspicions of a new blacklist. I wonder if those at the top understand the implications of such a decision.”
Despite his frustration, Hareem made it clear that he sympathizes with lower-level staff caught in the fallout, stating:
“I told them it was okay, seeing how helpless the working-level staff were. But I felt I had to say something—for the colleagues and younger artists who also sang alongside me. This isn’t right.”
He concluded his message with a call for artistic integrity and freedom of expression:
“Friends, in times like this, let’s continue to sing of love, resistance, and freedom.”
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This is not the first time Hareem has aligned his music with political activism. At the Gwanghwamun protest, he performed emotionally charged songs such as “One Love Forgotten with Another Love” and “Departure,” lending musical solidarity to a movement calling for then-President Yoon Seok Yeol‘s ouster. His renewed outcry reignites conversations about freedom of expression, political censorship, and the enduring shadow of artist blacklists in South Korea.
Hareem is a singer-songwriter and world music artist known for his unique blend of ballad and African-inspired sounds. Debuting in 1996 as the lead vocalist of the band VEN, he went solo in 2001. He is also celebrated for projects like “Guitar for Africa,” supporting young musicians, and participated in many music shows such as “Begin Again,” “Hidden Singer,” and “The Voice Korea.”