Cultural Figures Outraged: "Cultural Arts Industry Dying... What Has the Government Done?"

Implementation of Financial Interest Deferral and Principal Repayment Deferral Systems, Demand for Financial Support Programs, etc.

On the 12th, a movie theater in downtown Seoul was deserted. According to the Korea Film Council's integrated ticketing system, the number of visitors to movie theaters the previous day was 10,776. This is the lowest figure since the Korea Film Council began official statistics in 2004. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

Cultural figures affected by the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) have formed a broad coalition of the viewing and cultural sectors to address COVID-19 damage and appealed to the government for protective measures. In a statement released on the 20th, they urged, "We call for the swift establishment of survival measures to protect and revive the power of Korean culture, which has begun to awaken on the global stage."

Regarding the current state of the cultural industry, they explained, "It stands at the brink of extinction. In the face of the COVID-19 crisis that has lasted over a year, culture industries familiar to the public such as theater, musicals, dance, film, opera, and classical performances are collapsing helplessly." They lamented, "The seats in theaters and performance halls are empty, and countless industry workers are being pushed out onto the streets," adding, "There are no adequate protective measures anywhere."

They further stated, "Culture is something that must be preserved even if it means reducing food intake," and proposed five protective measures: ▲Support on the same level as key industries ▲Implementation of financial interest deferral and principal repayment deferral systems, and establishment of financial support programs ▲Introduction of tax benefits and rent support policies related to cultural and artistic spaces ▲Relaxation of social distancing between seats (securing 70% capacity) ▲Supplementing restrictions on operating hours.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The coalition included a large number of major organizations and figures from theater, musicals, dance, film, opera, and classical music, who spoke with one voice. Among them were Lee Chang-joo, CEO of Vincero; Kim Yong-kwan, CEO of Mast Media; Jung Jae-ok, CEO of Credia; Yoon Bo-mi, CEO of Bom Art Project; Park Jin-hak, CEO of Stage One; Kim Bo-kyung, CEO of Music & Art Company; Lee Saem, CEO of Mok Production; Yoon Dong-jin, CEO of The Bridge Company (all classical music); Lee Kang-ho, director of La Bella Opera Company; Lee Woo-jin, CEO of Met Opera Choir; Park Soon-seok, CEO of Winner Opera Choir; Park Yong-gyu, CEO of Noi Opera Choir; Park Kyung-tae, CEO of Opera Factory; Jung Min-soo, CEO of J&P Art Company; Jeon Byung-woon, CEO of Orpheus Opera Company; Kim Hyang-ran, chairperson of the Opera Line Association; Lee Kang-ho and Choi Ji-hyung, vice chairpersons of the Opera Line Association (all opera); Ahn Dang, director of New Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra; Park Sang-hyun, director of Mostly Philharmonic Orchestra; Kim Hong-gi, director of Prime Philharmonic Orchestra; Lee Jae-hwan, director of Millennium Symphony Orchestra; Seo Hoon, director of Seoul Grand Philharmonic Orchestra; Kim Ki-woong, director of Sorial Philharmonic Orchestra; Ham Shin-ik, director of Symphony Song; Kim Nam-yoon, director of W Philharmonic Orchestra (all symphony orchestras); Korea Theater Association, International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People, Stage Arts Professionals Association, Korea Playwrights Association, Korea Small Theater Association, Korea Theater Actors Association, Korea Directors Association, Korea Women’s Theater Association (all theater); Korea Film Producers Association, Film Organizations Coalition, Korea Scenario Writers Association, Film Importers and Distributors Association, Korea Film Marketing Association, Korea Theaters Association, Art House Cinema Association (all film), among others.