[Editorial] “Cultural Power” Arts Council Limping

Arts Council Korea Chairman Kim Byeong-ik stepped down on July 9. The Korea Arts Promotion Council, which was run by public servants, was turned into a private institution run by artists in August 2005 for the purpose of “reflecting the voices of the field.” As leftists took the important offices of the cultural world at the launch of the current administration, the Council (11 members) and its subcommittees (about 100 members) were also filled with those of a similar political disposition.

The council distributes 110 billion won to writers, musicians, and artists annually. A big power in charge of such tremendous financial resources, it requires fairness and transparency. However, there has been noise surrounding the distribution of funds since the launch. Many have pointed out that it is wasting tax money. The situation was not much different with “One World Music Festival” to be held at Icheon on October 5-7, which led to the chairman’s resignation.

Former National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts Director and council member Han Myeong-hui objected to the project, saying, “We cannot process one billion won of funds to such a project without a specific plan. When the project seemed to be enforced, he made an application for a provisional disposition to stop the project.

The limping of the council was expected. The chairman was elected by mutual vote in the name of “democratic agreement” while decision making through voting led to sharing and grouping. A source in the council said, “Members of the council were only interested in applying for and receiving funds as they play the multiple roles of the examiner, the planner, and the receiver. They were like, ‘Let’s take care of our own since we will go back to the field.’” It is natural in such circumstances that the council ranked at the bottom in 2005 and 2006 at the “Management Evaluation of Annual Funds Operating Institutions.”

The council’s limping reveals the current administration’s intention to govern the cultural world with money and its own code. The creation of a system to promote politics to artists who should struggle with themselves at studios is an act of debasing art. Critical voices from artists in need of funds are raging against the council’s corruption.