Minister Hwang Hee Holds Meeting with Korea Private Art Museum Association

Hwang Hee, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] On the afternoon of the 2nd at 3 PM, Hwang Hee, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, held a meeting with the Korea Association of Private Art Museums at the OCI Museum in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to exchange various policy opinions.

The meeting was attended by Hong Jeongju, President of the Korea Association of Private Art Museums, along with nine directors of regional art museums.

The attendees stated, "Private art museums have endured with pride in contributing to the development of local culture and arts despite poor financial conditions, but the COVID-19 pandemic has placed them in a very difficult situation," and requested, "The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism should expand support for private art museums."

The association also expressed concern over the reduction in government support for part of the salaries of curators and educators, who play the most essential roles in museum operations. They requested the expansion of support projects for private art museum personnel, assurance of stable working conditions for professional staff, reduction of private museum co-payments for subsidy projects, and support for improving aging safety facilities in museums.

In response, Minister Hwang said, "I am very sorry that private art museums are facing even more difficult circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic," and added, "I would like to express my gratitude to many museum officials who have preserved and nurtured our culture and arts despite these challenging conditions." He further promised, "Based on today’s opinions, we will continue to prepare support measures so that private art museums, which fill the lack of space in national and public cultural and artistic facilities and perform public functions, can operate stably as representative cultural facilities in their regions."

Minister Hwang also announced the resumption of the use of consumer discount coupons, which had been suspended due to the spread of COVID-19, saying, "I hope that the resumption of consumer discount coupon use will lead to the recovery of cultural activities and the revitalization of consumption, helping the cultural and artistic community, which has suffered from COVID-19, regain vitality." He encouraged, "In particular, I hope private art museums become a ‘resting place’ that soothes the hearts of our people tired from COVID-19."

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