The show does not go on for South Korean star

 
Lee Min Ho concert in Vietnam cancelled

The Lee Min Ho Management Company in conjunction with Starhaus Entertainment, announced the cancellation with claims that they failed to reach agreement with the Vietnamese promoter on several issues.

Tran Quoc Chiem, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, however, said the Vietnamese promoter, VDC Entertainment, sold only 122 out of total 3,000 tickets, with a total box-office revenue of only  VND458 million (USD21,613).

“The number of tickets sold in comparison to what was expected for an international star was too small for the show to go on," Chiem commented.

In order for the promoter to book the show with Lee Min Ho they were required to make an estimated investment of around VND12 billion (USD566,304). The modest ticket sales made the appearance extremely unprofitable and apparently was the real cause for the cancellation.

VDC Entertainment said that it took two years to complete negotiations for the singer's appearance in Vietnam. Much of the equipment necessary to put on the concert, such as lighting and other sound systems, had to be hired from abroad.

Meanwhile, this was not welcome news to the few fans who had bought tickets. One particularly unhappy fan was Tran Thi Mai Phuong, who spent VND74 million (USD3,492) on the tickets.

VDC Entertainment has yet to make any official apology, and Starhaus Entertainment's phone lines are reportedly inaccessible. Those who have bought tickets say that they are worried about how they will get a refund, as the sales agents refuse to answer phone calls.

Chiem explained that under current regulation, a cancellation notice should be made at least one day before the show, and in this case it was made five days in advance.

VDC Entertainment made an announcement via Facebook that they would refund the money to those who purchased tickets for two months after July 30.

“In order to ensure fans' benefits we have asked that the company issue a press release officially apologising and clarifying the situation, as well as explaining the procedures for ticket buyers to receive refunds. It's necessary that we set a deadline for reimbursement," he emphasised.

A representative of the promoter said that administrative procedures must be complete before they make any official statement about monetary reimbursement, but, "We have arranged for some staff to answer phones in order to to reassure fans."