Kim Heung-guk Meets President-elect Yoon: "Approached After a Long Time... Proposed Revitalization of Entertainment Industry and Public-Private Cooperation"

Comedians, Singers, and Actors "Create a Working Environment"
"Disaster Management Public-Private Cooperation Should Be Led by Cheongwadae" Proposal Also Made

Singer Kim Heung-guk, who supported President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol during the presidential election period and worked as a celebrity campaign team member, came out after a private meeting with President-elect Yoon at the 20th Presidential Transition Committee in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 8th and answered questions from the press. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] On the 8th, entertainers including singer Kim Heung-guk, who publicly supported President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate during the election period, proposed measures to revitalize the entertainment industry to President-elect Yoon.

Kim said to reporters after a casual meeting with President-elect Yoon at the transition team's office in Tongui-dong, Seoul, in the afternoon, "It’s been a while since I held a microphone," revealing this.

The meeting was attended by 20 people including Kim, comedians, singers, and actors. They were supporters who publicly backed President-elect Yoon and campaigned under the name "National Star Campaign Team." Kim said, "During the meeting, President-elect Yoon expressed his gratitude to us entertainers of the National Star Campaign Team for joining the nationwide campaign sites for 20 days despite the cold weather," adding, "He promised to allow us to freely carry out the broadcasting that the public desires."

Kim conveyed that each group proposed demands relevant to their professions. He said, "Comedians said, 'There are no comedy programs in our country,' and 'We want to bring some laughter.' Singers proposed, 'Since we are entering the silver and aging era, we hope many variety shows that adults can enjoy will be created.' Actors appealed for support so they can perform in dramas without worries."

In addition to entertainment-related proposals, suggestions regarding public-private cooperation were also made. Actor Jung Dong-nam said, "Since the Yoon Seok-yeol administration aims to establish a public-private cooperation system, I suggested creating a Disaster Safety Public-Private Cooperation Committee directly under the president, composed of 12 million members and 34 organizations."

Jung has been involved in rescue activities during major disasters such as the 1993 Seohae Ferry sinking and the 1994 Seongsu Bridge collapse. He also served as co-chairman of the Disaster Safety Public-Private Cooperation Committee under the Ministry of Public Safety and Security, launched in 2013 during the Park Geun-hye administration, in his capacity as president of the Korea Rescue Association.

He added, "Although President-elect Yoon said he would actively support it, he mentioned that the Ministry of the Interior and Safety would handle it. I said that the previous Moon Jae-in administration neglected this (Disaster Safety Public-Private Cooperation Committee)," and further appealed, "Safety management systems of each ministry are all disorganized, and due to vested interest conflicts, management is not functioning properly."