Seoul City Threatens to Cut Power to Controversial Adult Video Festival

Japanese AV Stars’ 2024 KXF The Fashion Festival
Canceled in Suwon and Paju, Now Threatened in Seoul
“We will proceed despite Seoul City’s warning.”

Following cancellation in Suwon due to public opposition, organizers of the 2024 KXF The Fashion Festival plan to hold the event on the Han River, defying Seoul City’s threat to cut off electricity.

On April 15, the adult festival’s organizer, Play Joker, announced plans to hold the event on April 21-22 aboard the Earth Cruise, a floating bar in Seoul’s Jamwon Han River Park.

On April 13, Seoul City’s Future Han River Headquarters responded by sending a letter to the Earth Cruise operator. The letter stated that the festival “distorts sexual perception and may lead to sexual offenses, damaging public morals.” Citing the River Law and the Cable and Boat Business Law, the letter prohibited the organizers from hosting the “adult festival,” constituting a formal ban on illegal activities.

The city also warned that immediate legal action would be taken if the festival went ahead despite the ban. This could include revoking the Earth Cruise rental agreement and river usage permit and implementing stricter measures like blocking access to the area and cutting off the electricity supply.

The festival organizers state, “Seoul City has no legal grounds to stop the event,” expressing their intention to proceed with the event and hold Suwon City women’s groups, who had previously stopped it, legally responsible.

The festival was scheduled to take place at an exhibition hall in Suwon earlier this year. Still, it was canceled by the City of Suwon due to concerns that it would negatively impact nearby elementary school students.

Their attempt to relocate to a studio in Paju was met with resistance from the city, leading to a cancellation of the reservation just a day later.

Paju’s mayor voiced strong opposition to the festival. He expressed concern that the event, featuring adult film stars, would promote the dehumanization of women and cater to a violent male gaze. He further cited the immature state of self-regulation in sexual content as a reason for his disapproval.