In a meeting of the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports, and Tourism Committee held on the 5th, there was a heated debate over the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s proposal to consolidate and establish a unified office for five national art organizations. Opposition lawmakers criticized the plan as being rushed without sufficient discussion, while Minister Yoo In-chon defended it, claiming extensive consultations had taken place over the past year with various experts. However, Minister Yoo stated that additional discussions would be carried out and if there was strong opposition, the integration plan would not proceed.
The five national art organizations targeted for integration by the ministry include the Korea National Ballet, Korea National Opera, Korean Symphony Orchestra, National Chorus of Korea, and National Dance Company of Korea, all of which are based at the Seoul Arts Center. After the ministry’s consolidation plan was outlined, these organizations publicly expressed their opposition.
Democratic Party lawmaker Kang Yu-jung criticized the current integration plan as being contrary to the ministry’s policy from 2000, which had separated these arts groups from the National Theater of Korea. Conversely, Minister Yoo argued that the proposal only involved the unification of operations, not the merging of the organizations themselves. He emphasized the goal was to reduce administrative burdens and enhance the groups’ artistic activities, dismissing any other motives.
Yoo In-chon also responded to calls for reviewing the integration plan from scratch, stating, “If the lawmaker is strongly against it, I will refrain from proceeding.” He assured that the opinions of stakeholders would be gathered, and decisions wouldn’t be rushed.
Furthermore, some ruling party members suggested slowing down the initiative. Jo Seung-soo from the People Power Party advised against pushing the plan if it could lead to political misunderstandings, with Minister Yoo resonating with this view, acknowledging that the integration was not imperative.
Additionally, the ministry aims to relocate the national art organizations outside of Seoul as part of a long-term cultural project named “Cultural Korea 2035,” to be unveiled by Deputy Minister Yong Ho-seong. This includes rebranding the Seoul Arts Troupe as a national Asian arts troupe, with plans to move it to Gwangju, followed by relocating other art organizations to appropriate regions to promote balanced regional cultural development.