Opposition Parties Oppose Appointment of Cho Yoon-sun as Director of Seoul Philharmonic Amid 'Cultural Blacklist' Controversy

Appointed on the 8th after September contest and recommendation committee
Sentenced in the 'Cultural Blacklist' case
Reinstated in August

Former Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Cho Yoon-sun, who was prosecuted and sentenced to prison for the so-called 'cultural blacklist' incident during the Park Geun-hye administration, was appointed as a non-standing director of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra by Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, prompting the Democratic Party to oppose the move, stating it "violates public interest."

Former Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Cho Yoon-sun Yonhap News

On the 9th, the Democratic Party of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, through spokesperson Lim Gyu-ho, stated, "Former Minister Cho is a criminal deeply involved in the 'cultural blacklist' incident and has served a prison sentence of 1 year and 2 months," adding, "Appointing such a person as a director of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra is a direct violation of the fairness and public interest of public institutions."

The Democratic Party further criticized, "Former Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs Kang Cheol-won, former CEO of the Seoul 50 Plus Foundation Moon Hye-jung, and Park Jung-sook, who was appointed as the CEO of the Seoul Women and Family Foundation last September, are all from Oh Se-hoon's election camp and are typical examples of political patronage," and added, "Lack of expertise and qualifications seem to pose no problem in the face of Mayor Oh's 'seat distribution'."

They continued, "Our citizens can only regard the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra as being instrumentalized for personal political purposes in preparation for a presidential bid," and declared, "The Democratic Party of the Seoul Metropolitan Council strongly condemns Mayor Oh's recent appointments."

In response, a Seoul city official explained, "She is participating based on artistic expertise and insight," and added, "As a former Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, she possesses the capability to support in-depth cultural policies and is also the author of a well-known art book titled 'Meeting Opera at the Art Museum.'"

Previously, former Minister Cho applied for the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra director position in September, went through the Seoul city executive recommendation committee, and was appointed on the 8th. The term of office is three years from the date of appointment. Former Minister Cho was reinstated in August after serving 1 year and 2 months in prison for the 'cultural blacklist' incident.