As pop star Dua Lipa’s concert in South Korea proceeded on Wednesday, organizers made cautious remarks about the impact of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration, stating, “There have been no changes so far, but discussions are ongoing.”
A representative from Live Nation Korea, Dua Lipa’s concert organizer, told News1 on Wednesday, “There have been no changes as of now, but the sudden martial law declaration has prompted discussions among all related parties.”
Although the concert had not been canceled as of Wednesday, ongoing discussions about whether it could proceed as planned left the possibility of cancellation open.
Dua Lipa’s performance in South Korea marks her return after approximately six and a half years since her last visit in May 2018. Fans eagerly anticipating the concert expressed their disappointment over the uncertainty caused by the current situation. Adding to the anticipation, her concert, initially scheduled for one night on Wednesday, had been extended to include an additional performance on Thursday due to overwhelming demand, heightening interest in whether the events would proceed.
The current tour, held in conjunction with the release of Dua Lipa’s third studio album “Radical Optimism,” began in Europe and is set to conclude in South Korea. The tour has achieved sell-out performances and added additional shows across Europe and Asia. The opening concert in Berlin received critical acclaim as “one of the best concerts of the year, combining Dua Lipa’s music and performance.”
Earlier, on Tuesday night, President Yoon declared martial law, stating, “I declare martial law to protect the Republic of Korea from the threats posed by North Korea’s communist forces and to eradicate shameless pro-North Korea anti-state forces that threaten the freedom and happiness of our people.” However, after lawmakers convened at the National Assembly and passed a resolution to lift martial law at approximately 1 a.m. on Wednesday, President Yoon announced at 4:30 a.m. that he would accept the National Assembly’s demand and lift martial law, ending the declaration just six hours after it began.
