Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choi Hwi-young said April 30 that recent controversy over the Lee Jae-myung government’s arts and culture appointments had caused concern, but he defended the decisions as justified.
“As the appointing authority, I feel sorry for causing worry,” Choi said at the second meeting of the Culture and Arts Policy Advisory Committee’s basic arts subcommittee (classical music, Korean traditional music and dance), held at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul. “But there are reasons. There are no appointments without reasons.”
Choi said expectations for what he called a “people-sovereignty government” were high, and that some people appeared disappointed and asking, “Why are you doing it this way?”
Committee member Won Il, representing the Korean traditional music field, urged the ministry to appoint “professional people” as heads of institutions, noting that leadership posts remain to be filled, including at the National Theater of Korea. He asked that the selections be reviewed carefully so that working artists would welcome the appointees.
Choi replied that personnel decisions can look different depending on one’s perspective. “Differences in perspective clearly exist,” he said, adding that he believed the government should accept criticism, disappointment and scolding over appointment outcomes.
At the same time, he said criticism should not turn into questioning an individual’s basic qualifications. “We can speak openly, but an approach that targets the person and treats it as a matter of competence should be viewed differently,” he said. He added that he was disappointed to see such attacks from artists who value respect for people.
Choi also said the government does not “hide behind the scenes,” and that it can talk about and explain its decisions. While acknowledging that outcomes can prompt differing views and concern, he said he believed the appointees would perform their roles well and that they were not appointed without cause.
Committee member Choi Woo-jung said he agreed that personal attacks should be avoided, but asked that when appointments are made it should become clear what vision and direction an organization will take under the new leader.
Choi said controversy can push both him and appointees to work in line with the purpose of the appointments. He said the ministry must ensure “meaningful results” and progress toward a clear direction.
He pledged to proceed transparently and asked for oversight. “Monitor and check us,” he said, adding that he hoped the committee would help ensure the ministry works properly and reliably.
The remarks followed a news conference held April 21 in front of the Cheong Wa Dae fountain, where Culture Action and other arts groups condemned the Lee Jae-myung government’s appointment policy for heads of public arts and culture institutions.
They cited Jang Dong-jik, chair of the National Jeongdong Theater; Park Hye-jin, head of the Korean National Opera; Seo Seung-man, CEO of the National Jeongdong Theater; and Hwang Gyo-ik, president of the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute. The groups said appointments to national arts institutions and state-funded research bodies with strong public missions were being made without clear standards and procedures, and that public popularity, political interests and personal ties were playing an outsized role.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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