Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Appoints 12 Members to the 2nd Committee of the Artists' Rights Protection Commission

Lee Sangwoo, Executive Director of the Korean Film Artists Federation, Appointed as Chairperson

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on the 26th that it has appointed 12 members to the 2nd term of the Artists' Rights Protection and Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence Relief Committee (Rights Protection Committee).

The members' term will last for two years, from today until February 25, 2027.

The 2nd term members held their first meeting on the same day, electing Lee Sang-woo, Executive Director of the Korean Film Artists Federation, as the chairperson of the 2nd term and discussing future committee operation plans. The chairperson was elected by mutual vote among the members in accordance with Article 21 of the "Act on the Protection of Artists' Rights."

In addition to Chairperson Lee Sang-woo, the 2nd term members appointed are Kang Soo-kyung, CEO of Seoul Artistic; Kim Byung-jun, Deputy Director of the ERICA Human Rights Center at Hanyang University; Moon Hye-jung, Attorney at Law Office Jeong; Park Sang-joo, External Cooperation Chairman of the Korea Blockchain Industry Promotion Association; Park Joo-hee, Chief Attorney at Law Firm J; Seo Jin-doo, CEO of Hongik Labor Law Firm; Oh Bit-nara, Attorney at Oh Bit-nara Law Office; Lim Dae-il, Chairman of the Korea Theatre Actors Association; Lee Ji-hyun, Attorney at Law Firm Hanseo; Lim Sang-hyuk, Attorney at Law Firm Sejong; and Jung So-yeon, Attorney at Law Office Boda.

Appointment ceremony for the 2nd term members of the Artists' Rights Protection Committee. From the left: Kim Byung-jun, Moon Hye-jung, Lim Sang-hyuk, Park Joo-hee, Jung So-yeon, Lim Dae-il, Chairman Lee Sang-woo, Park Sang-joo, Oh Bit-nara, Kang Soo-kyung, Moon Che-bu Shin Eun-hyang, Seo Jin-doo, Lee Ji-hyun [Photo by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism]

The Rights Protection Committee is an organization that deliberates and resolves matters related to the establishment and implementation of policies for the status and rights protection of artists, as well as cases concerning reports of artists' rights violations. Article 20 of the "Act on the Status and Rights Protection of Artists (Artists' Rights Protection Act)," which has been in effect since September 2022, stipulates provisions regarding the Rights Protection Committee.

During the past two years, the 1st term Rights Protection Committee held a total of 92 meetings, including 24 plenary sessions, 49 subcommittee meetings, and 19 mediation meetings. It reviewed 204 cases related to artists' rights violations and sexual harassment and sexual violence, issuing 53 corrective orders, 7 corrective recommendations, and resolving 40 disputes.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism explained that it appointed the 2nd term members based on key criteria such as candidates' expertise in the arts field, understanding of artists' rights protection systems and policies, and enthusiasm for performing their duties. To ensure a fair appointment process, a candidate recommendation committee was formed in December last year, and candidates were publicly recruited. A total of 57 people applied, and after document screening, the recommendation committee proposed twice the number of candidates in the fields of arts, artists' rights protection and fair trade, and sexual harassment and sexual violence prevention to the Ministry. The Ministry then appointed 12 members as the 2nd term Rights Protection Committee members, considering gender, age, and balance across fields.

Shin Eun-hyang, Director of Arts Policy at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated, "The Artists' Rights Protection Committee is a key organization that protects artists' rights to engage in artistic activities in a free environment. The Ministry will do its utmost to support the investigation and reporting of reported cases and to take appropriate relief measures."