“Gamgichan, Isn’t That Illegal?”... Lee Ki-chan Offers an Explanation Amid Pharmacy Busking Controversy

[Financial News] Singer Lee Ki-chan’s agency has addressed the controversy over his “pharmacy busking” project to promote his new song.
His agency, IPD Studio, said on the 20th that it had obtained legal advice before proceeding with the project and determined that it did not violate any current laws.
The agency also stressed that it was aware of rules prohibiting audience solicitation and the distribution of medicines during performances. “We were fully aware that soliciting people at the venue to attract an audience or distributing medicines was prohibited, and proceeded with the performance accordingly,” the agency said. “Going forward, we plan to proceed cautiously by carefully reviewing relevant laws and continuing to gather a range of views from the pharmacist community.”
Lee chose pharmacies as performance venues to promote “Gamgi,” which he released last month. The new song is a fresh rendition of his signature 2002 song “Gamgi,” and the idea was to meet audiences in places connected to the title.
Lee has performed at pharmacies in Chuncheon, Seoul, Daejeon, Chungju, Incheon and other cities. The schedule he posted on social media also included performances in Daegu, Busan and Incheon through the end of this month. Alongside the phrase “Promotional inquiries very welcome,” the schedule stated that the performances would be held “in compliance with the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act and other relevant laws.”
Lee’s decision to go out and find stages himself was rooted in his concern that opportunities to meet the public had dwindled. On “You Quiz on the Block,” which aired on the 14th, he explained that he started performing on the street because he thought, “There are far fewer stages where I can sing, and it’s going to be hard to reach the public unless I get out there myself.”
“I thought it might be fun to connect pharmacy busking with ‘Gamgi,’ so I did, and the response was good,” Lee said. “The fact that I’m sitting here itself makes it seem like there’s been a huge commotion.”
As word of the performances spread, he said he acquired the nickname “Gamgichan” and received requests to perform at pharmacies across the country, as well as advertising offers from pharmaceutical companies. However, voices in the pharmacist community expressed wariness about the promotional effect of the performances.
Some pharmacists took issue with the fact that the performances could make a particular pharmacy better known and draw crowds of visitors. The Enforcement Rules of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act prohibit pharmacy operators from soliciting customers to attract consumers or patients.
An official from the Korean Pharmaceutical Association said, “We’re concerned that performances inside pharmacies could be used to attract customers or promote medicine sales,” adding, “Even if the singer’s intentions are pure, it could be seen as a marketing activity.”
[email protected] An Ga-eul Reporter