Assemblyman Lee Byung-hoon: "Stable Funding Securing Needed for Asia Culture Center"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Rep. Lee Byung-hoon (Democratic Party of Korea·Gwangju Dong-gu Nam-gu Eul) stated on the 27th that stable funding for the National Asia Culture Center is necessary.

At the plenary meeting of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee held that day, Rep. Lee raised questions about the reason for attempting to entrust the Asia Culture Center, which had not yet opened at the time, to a corporation.

Rep. Lee said, “The fundamental purpose of establishing the National Asia Culture Center is to create new national wealth and generate new growth engines through culture,” adding, “A plan for stable funding as a national institution must be prepared so that it can create and produce new cultural and artistic content and serve as a platform for cultural exchange in Asia.”

In response, Minister Park said, “Although the special law was amended to include incorporation and other contents to guarantee autonomy, considering the role, status, and stable operation of the Asia Culture Center, I believe it was inappropriate.”

He continued, “It is clear that the Asia Culture Center is a national facility built with the national budget,” and added, “We will strive to ensure that the National Asia Culture Center can operate in accordance with its founding purpose through legal amendments.”

The government amended the “Special Act on Asia Culture” as a government legislative bill in May 2015, which included operating the Asia Culture Center partially entrusted to the Asia Culture Institute and evaluating the results after five years to fully entrust it. “Full entrustment” means complete incorporation of the center.

Meanwhile, Rep. Lee Byung-hoon has proposed the “Special Act on the Creation of Asia Culture Hub City,” which extends the status of the national institution to ensure not only the public nature of the Asia Culture Center but also stable finances, as his first legislative bill.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.