Yoon In-chon: "Politically Appointed Heads Must Step Down When Regime Changes" (Comprehensive)

"Did Not Coerce Director's Resignation," Claims
"No Blacklist Under Lee Myung-bak Government," Defends
Promises "Careful Remarks" Regarding 'Don't Target XX' Statement

Yoo In-chon, the nominee for Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, responded to concerns from some quarters about a "regression to the past" by stating, "I will strive to change that expectation." In a written response submitted on the 3rd to the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, he pledged, "Based on my lifelong experience working in the field, I will create good policies." Yoo served as the inaugural Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism under the Lee Myung-bak administration, holding the position for about three years from 2008 to 2011. He achieved results such as strengthening copyright protection, establishing the Seoul branch of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art and the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History, and reorganizing the cultural and artistic support system, but was also embroiled in controversies including pressure for institution heads to resign and allegations of a blacklist in the cultural and artistic community.

On the 14th, Yoo In-chon, the nominee for Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, responded to reporters' questions while riding a bicycle to his office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Heo Young-han younghan@

Yoo drew a clear line by stating, "There was no blacklist during the Lee Myung-bak administration." When asked whether he agreed that investigations and inquiries into the blacklist were necessary, he replied, "Since there was no blacklist, separate investigations or inquiries are unnecessary." Regarding the pressure for institution heads to resign, he emphasized, "There was no collective pressure for resignation of institution heads appointed by the previous administration." He explained, "No specific organizations were excluded from support, and regarding subsidies, I understand that budget execution guidelines were followed." Concerning former National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art director Kim Yoon-soo, who stepped down at the time, Yoo added, "There were limitations in terms of operational efficiency and performance, and audit results found various violations of regulations, leading to personnel actions."

Yoo stressed, "The blacklist was fundamentally wrong." Regarding the related incidents that emerged during the Park Geun-hye administration, he stated, "It was something that should never have happened," and emphasized, "The role of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is to protect creators and support their free activities. I will do my best for this." However, he argued, "I believe it is desirable for politically appointed institution heads to step down when the administration changes, and I think institutionalization discussions at the National Assembly level are necessary." In response to opposition voices from some in the cultural and artistic community against his appointment, he said, "I will listen carefully to both opposition and support voices and will pursue cultural welfare and arts support policies with a heavy sense of responsibility."

As key issues to focus on upon assuming office, Yoo cited policies aligned with rapidly changing technologies and social environments such as artificial intelligence (AI) and chatbots. He stated, "I will strive to realize improvements in copyright and content-related laws and systems in response to technological changes, expand opportunities for the public to enjoy culture, support artists' creative activities, promote the cultural industry, and achieve balanced regional development centered on culture." Regarding the culture, arts, sports, and tourism policies of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration over the past year, he said, "I think it was a process of laying the foundation for national tasks," citing the introduction of an OTT self-rating system, increased tax credits for video content production costs, and the establishment of a basic plan to support cultural activities of artists with disabilities as major achievements.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's role in the current controversy over false reports and fake news, he said, "I will discuss with related industries to create desirable alternatives to strengthen the media's self-purification efforts to prevent the creation and spread of fake news." On the establishment of the Cheongwadae Foundation for the management and utilization of the Blue House, he responded, "The establishment of a new dedicated corporation is necessary." Addressing criticism that costs have arisen due to the relocation of the presidential office, he explained, "The costs of creating and operating the Blue House as a space where history, culture, and nature breathe are unrelated to the presidential office's move to Yongsan."

Yoo has previously been involved in controversy over remarks such as "Don't shoot, XX." He expressed regret, saying, "I regret that even content I did not say was distorted," but also stated, "I will speak carefully in the future to avoid further controversies." When asked about his views on celebrities expressing opinions on social issues, like singer Kim Yoon-ah of Jaurim criticizing the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan on social media, he replied, "Anyone can freely express their views, but when one has social influence, responsibility follows, so public expressions must be made cautiously."

Regarding the controversy over the use of the phrase "60 years since the founding of the nation" in a promotional booklet distributed during his tenure as minister in 2008, which sparked debate over the legal legitimacy of the Provisional Government, he stated, "As clearly stated in the preamble of the Constitution, I believe that the Republic of Korea was born inheriting the legal legitimacy of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea established through the March 1st Movement." He added, "At the time, I visited the Liberation Association and confirmed that they did not deny that the Republic of Korea succeeded the legal legitimacy of the Provisional Government, and my current position remains unchanged."