Seoul, South Korea – Audiences at a recent showing of the play “Wife” in Seoul have sparked complaints after freely taking photos during the performance. The play, starring Girls’ Generation’s Sooyoung, drew attention when a male audience member was observed snapping “hundreds of photos” of the actress in a scene where her character, Daisy, changes on stage. The incident occurred during the second act, and the audience member used a DSLR camera to capture the unauthorized images. This act spurred others in the audience to follow suit and snap photos on their phones, according to an anonymous netizen.
The unauthorized photography violates the standard rule of not filming or photographing any part of a stage play. Displeased netizens criticized the production company for not taking adequate steps to prevent such behavior from ill-mannered audience members. They expressed concerns that the company failed to properly warn spectators against unauthorized photography.
Responding to the incident, the production company issued a statement explaining their side. They claimed that the audience members were sitting in blind spots, and hence they were unable to detect the illegal photography. To prevent such issues in the future, they promised to increase the number of personnel monitoring the audience and ensure proper warnings about the prohibition on filming and photography.
The play “Wife” is currently being staged at the LG Arts Center in Seoul’s Gangseo-gu district. It presents a narrative spanning four generations, starting in 1959 and reaching into 2046. One of the play’s focal points is the stories of queer couples living as minorities in society.
In light of this incident, audiences attending stage plays in Seoul will be reminded of the strict no-photography policy. The production company has acknowledged the need to address the issue by implementing measures to prevent unauthorized photography and reinforcing the ban with clear warnings. Violating this policy not only disrupts the performers but is also against the law. As the play “Wife” continues its run, it is hoped that audiences will appreciate and respect the dedication of the cast and crew by refraining from engaging in such disruptive and unlawful actions.