"The National Theater Company has returned to Jangchung-dong, where the National Theater is located, after 15 years. Together with the site of the Korea Freedom Federation across the street, which will serve as a dual engine, we will create conditions so that Jangchung-dong can fully function as a performing arts center."
On the 8th, Yoo In-chon, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, reaffirmed his commitment to the Namsan Performing Arts Belt at the National Theater Company’s return ceremony held at the National Theater in Jung-gu, Seoul. The ceremony, titled 'National Theater Company, Continuing the Future of Theater in Namsan,' was organized to commemorate the National Theater Company’s return to the National Theater after 15 years. Veteran actors from the National Theater Company such as Park Jeong-ja and Lee Ho-jae, as well as representatives from theater-related associations, organizations, and affiliated institutions, attended the event.
Founded in 1950, the National Theater Company had maintained its status as the exclusive troupe of the National Theater until it was separated in 2010 when Minister Yoo, during his first term as Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, incorporated it as a foundation. At that time, the National Theater Company relocated to the Seogye-dong cultural space, which houses the Baek Seong-hee Jang Min-ho Theater and the Small Theater Pan. In 2023, as the Seogye-dong cultural space area began reconstruction into a complex cultural space, the National Theater Company temporarily moved to the Hongdae Art Center in Daehangno. After various discussions, the plan to return to the National Theater in Jangchung-dong instead of the Seogye-dong complex cultural space was finalized, and the move to the National Theater was completed at the end of last month.
Minister Yoo emphasized that the National Theater Company has returned to the National Theater’s fold and that its budget has grown to an unprecedented scale compared to the past, underscoring that the company must serve as the representative theater troupe of the country in both name and reality.
"When I first took office as minister, the National Theater Company’s budget was 2.5 billion KRW, which I increased to 5 billion KRW, and now it has grown to 16 billion KRW," he said. "As the capacity has grown, and since it has settled again in Jangchung-dong, I believe it is time to repay many citizens with excellent works."
Minister Yoo also announced that he would accelerate the promotion of the Namsan Performing Arts Belt utilizing the National Theater and the Freedom Center site across the street. The Namsan Performing Arts Belt is a plan to establish creative and production spaces, including rehearsal rooms, studios, and stage workshops linked with the National Theater by 2026. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism plans to secure rehearsal spaces and other facilities on the site of the Korea Freedom Federation’s Freedom Center located across from the National Theater, and to this end, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Freedom Federation in March last year. Furthermore, the ministry plans to complete the performing arts belt by linking the National Theater, National Jeongdong Theater, Myeongdong Art Theater, and the Seogye-dong complex cultural space scheduled to open in 2030, thereby continuously creating performance venues and creative production spaces in downtown Seoul to develop the entire performing arts industry.
Minister Yoo expressed regret, saying, "We tried to make the Freedom Center site the second home of the Namsan Performing Arts Center by increasing the budget and preparing last year, but progress was slower than expected due to opposition from some parties." He added, "I will finalize the budget for next year and leave, so I will ensure that the Freedom Center site is reflected in next year’s budget again and that conditions are well prepared so that it can become a dual engine with the National Theater as a performing arts center."
Minister Yoo also reiterated the justification for relocating national arts organizations to local areas, which has recently been controversial. He explained, "Some people ask why we send organizations down from Seoul when we should be nurturing arts organizations in the regions, but even if you try to establish arts organizations locally, there are no people. Therefore, the headquarters must come down to create a new ecosystem."
He added, "Policies related to changes such as the relocation of national arts organizations have recently been announced, causing considerable unrest and criticism that preparations are insufficient, but preparations are now underway. Therefore, the organizations will start relocating from next year." He also said, "Since the National Theater Company has settled in Jangchung-dong, it will not move to the provinces and will likely continue its role here. Instead, second, third, and fourth National Theater Companies will continue to be established in the regions."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
