Peggy Gou’s Seoul Boiler Room Show Evacuated Due to Overcrowding

Peggy Gou herself never ended up taking the stage, and five individuals were reportedly treated for breathing difficulties.

Thousands of Peggy Gou fans in Seoul gathered to see the South Korean artist perform her Boiler Room DJ set at SFactory in the city’s Seongdong District on the evening of Saturday, July 27. Shortly before she played at 1am, though, attendees were asked to leave the venue due to crowd congestion.

No official attendance figures have been given by the promoters, but multiple outlets have published social media commentator speculation that 5,000 or 6,000 entrants had packed into the 2,000-capacity space. It was reported in a YTN news segment that the local police received complaints of overcrowding, and five individuals were treated for breathing issues and sent home per Korea JooAng Daily.

Attendees called for the organizers to issue refunds as the event was cut short three hours early, and most had arrived specifically hoping to see Gou’s set. “How long has it been since the Itaewon incident?” said one poster, referring to the Halloween 2022 festival crowd rush that killed 159 and injured a further 196.

Gou, who was born in Kim Min Ji, South Korea but moved to London for university before eventually learning how to DJ in 2013, addressed the turn of events in a statement of her own.

“Before I could go on stage and perform, the event was called off due to the host issues and safety concerns,” she wrote. “It breaks my heart and I’m so sad. I cannot believe this happened. I flew in from Japan without sleeping because I was really looking forward to this…“

Gou went on to say that she’s trying to plan a makeup event. She wrote, “I’ve requested that refunds be made promptly to those who purchased tickets. I’m also in the talks for another performance as soon as possible for those who attended as well as those who weren’t able to enter the venue tonight. Please hang tight.”