PlayJoker, the company behind the “2024 KXF The Fashion” festival, announced the cancellation through social media, expressing “sincere apologies” to supporters who had been looking forward to the event. (Image from PlayJoker YouTube channel)
SEOUL, April 19 (Korea Bizwire) – In a culmination of mounting challenges, the organizers of a provocative adult entertainment festival featuring Japanese porn stars have decided to cancel the controversial event scheduled for this week in South Korea.
PlayJoker, the company behind the “2024 KXF The Fashion” festival, announced the cancellation through social media, expressing “sincere apologies” to supporters who had been looking forward to the event.
According to the statement, agencies representing the Japanese actresses raised concerns about ensuring the personal safety of their clients amid intense backlash from women’s groups across the country.
PlayJoker said the agencies questioned whether they could guarantee no harm would come to the performers, citing incidents like the 2023 Sillim Station stabbing as examples of potential risks.
“The Japanese agencies asked if we could assure that an incident like the attack on Lee Jae-myung would not occur, even with security personnel present,” the organizers explained, referring to the assault on South Korea’s opposition leader during his electoral campaign in January.
Despite plans to hire 49 security guards and 27 support staff, PlayJoker admitted it could not provide definitive assurances about the performers’ protection.
The adult festival had been relocated multiple times due to pushback from civic groups and local authorities’ refusal to issue permits. Initially planned for a private exhibition hall in Suwon on April 20 and 21, it faced objections as the venue was located near an elementary school.
Subsequent attempts to hold the event in Paju and on a cruise ship along the Han River in Seoul also failed after municipal governments intervened.
Most recently, the organizers had announced the festival would take place on April 19 in the Apgujeong neighborhood of Seoul’s Gangnam District, only for local officials to also prohibit the event.
The adult festival had been relocated multiple times due to pushback from civic groups and local authorities’ refusal to issue permits. Initially planned for a private exhibition hall in Suwon on April 20 and 21, it faced objections as the venue was located near an elementary school. (Image courtesy of PlayJoker)
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
