“The elements that fuel K-Culture are actually declining. We need to revive the roots,” said Im Jin-taek, the director of the Korea Arts and Culture Education Agency, during an interview on August 12.
Im made these remarks at the ‘Dream Festival Miryang,’ the first joint camp of the ‘Dream Troupe,’ held at the Hotel Arena in Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province.
He consistently emphasized the importance of traditional arts education in the interview. “Many BTS fans overseas sing Arirang, but the real Arirang is disappearing. We must preserve Pungmul-gut, the greatest form of collective performance art invented by humanity,” he stated.
Starting next year, the agency will launch a pilot project for the ‘Dream Traditional Arts Troupe.’ This new group will be added to the existing ‘Dream Orchestra,’ ‘Dream Dance Troupe,’ and ‘Dream Troupe,’ focusing on learning and performing traditional Korean arts such as Samulnori and Pungmul-gut.
Im highlighted the significance of community art, especially in the age of artificial intelligence (AI), where children need to engage in art that involves physical interaction. He believes that expanding community art through orchestras, dance, and theater will help children develop social character.
He also noted that cultural arts education plays a role in empowering children to adapt to new technologies, including AI. “Art that embodies humanity, thought, and physical expression is crucial,” he said, emphasizing the need to preserve ideas through art that machines cannot replicate.
Im’s emphasis on ‘community art’ is rooted in his 50 years of artistic experience. He began his theater activities in college and became involved in the traditional arts revival movement in the mid-1970s, addressing concerns that culture and arts were becoming ‘individualized, aristocratic, and foreign.’ He was among the first to introduce the concept of ‘Madang-geuk,’ or courtyard theater.
He believes that arts education aligns with the spirit of Madang-geuk. “Art should transcend the personal and self-indulgent to become social and communal,” he said, adding that the creators of art can be anyone, not just special individuals.
At the ‘Dream Festival Miryang,’ he encouraged the participating children to “play well.” The theme of the festival is ‘Let’s Play,’ providing an opportunity for members of the ‘Dream Troupe’ from across the country to engage in theater and play together. Im expressed his hope that the children would enjoy themselves, noting that the festival’s director, Oh Man-seok, captured the essence of theater’s origins in play.
He also envisions creating pathways for talented children to further develop their skills. The agency is planning to form an advanced arts troupe from outstanding members of the ‘Dream Orchestra.’ Similar to Venezuela’s music education program ‘El Sistema,’ which produced renowned conductor Gustavo Dudamel, the goal is to make the Dream Arts Troupe a pathway for aspiring professional artists.
“We plan to establish an advanced orchestra starting next year,” Im said, adding that he is also considering the need for advanced dance and theater troupes in the future.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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