Interior Ministry Drops Appeal in 'Buma Democratic Protests Ceremony Song Censorship' Damages Case

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced that it has submitted a statement accepting the first-instance court ruling that acknowledged the state's liability for damages regarding allegations of "song censorship at the Buma Democratic Protests ceremony," thereby confirming its decision to drop the appeal.
Previously, the Seoul Central District Court ruled on June 10 that the defendants must pay 3 million won each in consolation money to singer Lang Lee and director Kang Sang-woo, who had filed a lawsuit for damages against the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and others, demanding 94 million won.
Lang Lee was scheduled to perform the song "The Wolf Has Come" at the 43rd Buma Democratic Protests ceremony held in Busan in October 2022, and director Kang had been offered the role of general director for the ceremony.
However, Lang Lee and director Kang were asked by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety at the time to replace "The Wolf Has Come" with another song, citing issues with the lyrics. Although they initially refused, they eventually stepped down from the performance as the demands continued.
"The Wolf Has Come" is a song that criticizes the reality in which the weak, who resist an absurd society or power, are labeled as wolves or witches.
Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-joong stated, "This ruling is a normalization of the abnormal, correcting the wrong practices of the previous administration," adding, "We humbly accept the judiciary's judgment, which recognized the state's responsibility to guarantee, protect, and encourage the freedom of artistic expression of the people as stipulated in the Constitution."
(Photo: Courtesy of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.