Minister Yoon In-chon: "Daehangno is Korea's Broadway... We Will Definitely Improve the Budget for Pure Arts"

Theater Industry On-Site Meeting Held

"Having devoted my life to the theater world, my belief that 'the answer lies in the field' remains unchanged. Theater, as the foundation of performing arts, has a significant ripple effect on other genres, so I believe today’s gathering is the most important."

Yoo In-chon, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is holding a field meeting with the theater community on the afternoon of the 6th at Modu Arts Theater in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 6th, Yoo In-chon, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said at a theater industry field meeting held at Modu Arts Theater in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, "I consider expanding support for pure arts, including theater, as my mission during my term and will strive to secure the budget."

At the meeting, various current issues were discussed, including ▲post- and indirect support to strengthen the self-sustainability of theater organizations and measures to resolve regional imbalances ▲ways to expand stage participation opportunities for young artists ▲support measures for small theaters struggling after COVID-19.

Attending the meeting, Guk Min-seong, Secretary General of the Korea Theater Association, and Park Jeong-hee, representative of the theater company 'Punggyeong,' presented their opinions on theater support projects.

Secretary General Guk pointed out, "The rental fee support project previously operated has changed to a space support project, resulting in the disappearance of performance production activities by private organizations." Representative Park emphasized, "It is necessary to ensure fairness in the evaluation system for support, and the introduction of a repertoire support system is urgently needed from a long-term perspective."

Minister Yoo responded, "I deeply feel the necessity of these issues and have been considering changing the form of support. Instead of supporting the creation of new works every year, we plan to promote support from the Arts Council for performances that consistently showcase a theater company's representative works and repertoire. Also, it would be great to gather such works and hold a festival," he said.

Yoo In-chon, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is greeting participants of the theater industry field meeting at Modu Arts Theater in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 6th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

He also expressed his intention to improve the 'Bangbanggokgok Cultural Sympathy' project operated by the Korea Culture and Arts Centers Association. Regarding this project, which supports performance programs at regional cultural centers, Minister Yoo said, "I understand that Bangbanggokgok had issues because the matching between selected works through open calls and the demand from cultural centers was not aligned. We will change the direction so that performances going to local areas are not commercial works but are unconditionally good works focusing on artistry and quality to be staged."

Regarding the selection of members for the National Theater Company, Minister Yoo stressed, "Members should become representative actors. They need to hone their skills more rigorously than now, and actors themselves must prove their abilities through their works."

Bang Ji-young, Director of the International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People, appealed, "The role of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is important in expanding art enjoyment for children. Since infants are under childcare, and adolescents are under education, unless the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Gender Equality and Family work together, children’s art enjoyment cannot be properly realized."

In response, Minister Yoo said, "In fact, children and youth theater companies are the most important. Adult theater can manage on their own with many decisions already made, but children and youth are potential audiences and sponsors who continuously grow. I recall that during my previous term as Minister of Culture, I launched the National Institute for Children and Youth Theater ahead of children’s theater companies," adding, "Since it opened in 2011 and has been running for 11 years, efforts to change it are necessary. We need to consider whether to make the institution independent and, if so, whether it should be national."

Lee Jae-won, Artistic Director of Welcome Daehangno 2022, proposed, "The performance center inside Marronnier Park should be made more audience-friendly. Even if 24-hour operation is difficult, it is necessary to improve the system so that performances run regularly from 9 a.m. to 9 or 10 p.m. when evening shows end, and tickets can be booked."

Minister Yoo replied, "It would be good to gather famous theater company repertoire support projects and hold events at Welcome Daehangno. To position theater as the main focus and Daehangno as our Broadway, we need famous repertoire works. Holding it simultaneously with PAMS (Performing Arts Market in Seoul) to attract overseas visitors is also an option. This would center on the arts and increase the expected effects on tourism," he said.

Yoon In-chon, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is holding a field meeting with the theater community on the afternoon of the 6th at Modu Arts Theater in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism]

Minister Yoo also said, "Currently, independent films receive 1 billion KRW each in support, but the theater sector’s Arts Council creative support is only 11 billion KRW in total, with 1.6 billion KRW for creation and production support, which is embarrassing and regrettable. Although next year’s budget is already set and projects cannot be shaken, pure arts support is too low overall, so we will definitely improve this part next year."

He added, "The big goal is to significantly revise the amount of pure arts creation support and the overall system itself so that from 2025 we can secure a budget to renew the atmosphere."

In addition, various exchanges of opinions took place between Minister Yoo and theater industry officials regarding difficulties in theater operation and improvement measures and alternatives for the treatment of theater actors.

Minister Yoo said, "In the future, overseas expansion and works showcased at festivals will evolve into distinct repertoires, and the style of theater will also change. In January next year, we will comprehensively organize the contents of the sector-specific meetings held since last month and announce points of policy revision and change," he said.

Attending the meeting were 14 people, including Guk Min-seong, Secretary General of the Korea Theater Association; Lim Dae-il, Chairman of the Korea Theater Actors Association; Bang Ji-young, Director of the International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People; Lee Dae-young, Dean of the Graduate School of Arts at Chung-Ang University; Park Jeong-hee, representative of theater company Punggyeong; and officials from the National Theater Company.