Announcement of Performing Arts Policy Centered on "Open Recruitment and Public Vetting"
Pre-appointment System to Name New Leaders at Least Six Months in Advance
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will change the previously confidential selection process for heads of national art organizations to an open recruitment system. The goal is to eliminate potential controversy caused by non-disclosure and to provide opportunities for capable individuals to apply for leadership positions. In addition, a public vetting process by experts will be introduced to verify the qualifications of candidates. Furthermore, a pre-appointment system will be established, requiring the announcement of a new head at least six months before the current leader's term expires, so that the new leader can begin work immediately upon taking office.
On the 15th, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism held a press conference at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Seoul and announced a performing arts policy centered on the introduction of the open recruitment system, public vetting system, and pre-appointment system.
The ministry explained that there had previously been no explicit regulations regarding the selection of heads of national art organizations, and that appointments were made confidentially, leading to frequent disputes over the selection process. The ministry stated that these measures are intended to address those issues. The new policy is expected to increase transparency in the selection process and provide open opportunities for qualified individuals.
Yong Hoseong, the First Vice Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is announcing the 'Performing Arts Policy,' which includes plans to reform the selection procedures and schedules for heads of national art organizations, at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Seoul on the 15th. [Photo by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism]
Due to the lack of explicit regulations, the selection process for heads of national art organizations varied widely from one organization to another. While there were instances of open recruitment, they were largely formalities.
Yong Hoseong, First Vice Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, explained, "If you look at the selection process for heads of national art organizations so far, after the recruitment notice was posted, it was not disclosed who applied or what vetting process was undertaken before the appointment. We intend to make this process more open."
The public vetting process to verify the qualifications of candidates will be conducted by a panel of around 10 experts.
Vice Minister Yong stated, "We will establish a mechanism to verify the qualifications of candidates for the head positions. Candidates will be given the opportunity to present their qualifications and vision, and experts will be able to raise questions or ask for further clarification regarding their presentations."
The expert panel will include members of the organization's board of directors, former heads and artistic directors, current and former representatives of members, media representatives, and professionals from the field of arts management.
Additionally, around 50 observers will participate in the public vetting process. While these observers will not have decision-making authority in the selection process, they will be able to provide necessary feedback during the public vetting.
The pre-appointment system is intended to allow new leaders to guide their organizations according to their own vision from the outset. In Korea, art organizations often have performance schedules planned about a year in advance. As a result, newly appointed leaders have typically been required to follow plans made by their predecessors during the initial period of their tenure. The pre-appointment system aims to create conditions that enable new leaders to implement their own vision immediately upon taking office. The ministry stated that it will begin the recruitment process for new heads at least one year before the current leader's term expires and will announce the new head six months prior to the end of the term.
In addition, the ministry announced that it will issue a unified recruitment notice in June for national art organizations whose leaders' terms are ending soon, with the intention of appointing new leaders in August or September. The 12 organizations subject to the unified recruitment notice in June will include the National Jeongdong Theater, the National Opera Company, the National Ballet Company, among others.
The ministry also announced plans to establish new National Youth Art Organizations in regional areas. This year, four new organizations will be established, with plans to gradually increase the number of National Youth Art Organizations. The four new organizations to be established this year are the National Youth Yeonhui Company (Busan Metropolitan City), the National Youth Dance Company (Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province), the National Symphony Concert Orchestra (Sejong Special Self-Governing City), and the National Youth Theater Company (Wonju, Gangwon Province).
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