Kim Soo-ro Expresses Distress to Lee Nak-yeon, Saying "I Feel Like I Committed Some Sin in a Past Life"

On the afternoon of the 20th, Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, visited Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to hold a meeting with performing arts industry officials facing a crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To the right of Lee is actor Kim Soo-ro.
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] On the 20th, Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, visited the performing arts scene struggling due to the impact of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Actor Kim Soo-ro (CEO of Double K Film & Theater), who met with Lee, confessed, "It is such a difficult time that performers feel as if they have committed some sin in their past lives."

That afternoon, Lee held a meeting with theater industry workers at the S Theater of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Lee said, "Many fields have been indescribably shrunk due to COVID-19, and the performing arts sector is also suffering greatly. I want to hear how you are enduring this painful transitional period."

Kim Soo-ro expressed his difficulties, saying, "It's rare to experience such mental breakdowns in life, but performers feel so distressed as if they have committed some sin in their past lives. Even when performances are canceled, we have to pay 100% of the rental fees. In that case, small production companies like ours inevitably face bankruptcy."

In response, Lee said, "Whether we go to a hotel or take a plane, there is no place where you have to pay 100% even if you don't go or ride. It is extremely unreasonable to demand 100% payment for rental fees that were not even used. I hope the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will step in to assess the situation."

Heo Ji-hye, CEO of Yeoljeon Theater, said, "The performing arts sector has suffered due to social distancing. I wonder whether social distancing is blindly important, or if its effectiveness and purpose are what matter. If it is the latter, then communication is needed to clarify that under such conditions, people can enjoy daily life."

Lee replied, "Let's wait for the judgment of the quarantine authorities. Coincidentally, today there is a party-government-Blue House meeting where 10 executives from the Blue House, government, and Democratic Party gather. I will convey what I heard from you to the government and the Blue House."