Jo Ok-hyun, Jeonnam Provincial Council Member, "Serious Manpower Shortage in Provincial Gugak Orchestra"

Demand for Improvement of Chronic 'Parking Shortage' at Namdo Sori Ulimteo

Concerns have been raised about the need for improvements regarding the manpower shortage of the Jeonnam Provincial Gugak Orchestra and the chronic parking issues at Namdo Sori Woollimter.

Jo Ok-hyun, a member of the Jeonnam Provincial Council (Democratic Party of Korea, Mokpo 2), criticized during the recent administrative audit of the Culture Prosperity Bureau by the Jeonnam Economic Tourism and Culture Committee, stating, “According to the ordinance establishing the Jeollanam-do Provincial Gugak Orchestra enacted in 2019, the orchestra is operated with a quota of 80 members and a current staff of 73.” He added, “Although the orchestra is conducting over 100 performances this year, making it the most active nationwide, the issue of insufficient members has not been resolved.”

Jo Ok-hyun, Jeonnam Provincial Council Member.

Assemblyman Jo pointed out, “While the management and supervision of the Provincial Gugak Orchestra has been designated to the Cultural Foundation, manpower management is handled by the province, resulting in a de facto dual system.” He criticized, “This dual organizational operation was the cause of a problematic administrative case in 2020 when the orchestra members were dismissed, with each side shifting responsibility to the other.”

He continued, “If the dual system is unavoidable, the foundation and the province should cooperate to support the Provincial Gugak Orchestra.” He urged, “Rather than mere verbal efforts, increase budget and manpower support to achieve even slight improvements.”

Assemblyman Jo also strongly criticized the chronic parking shortage at Namdo Sori Woollimter.

He stated, “The parking lot at Namdo Sori Woollimter accommodates about 100 residents from cultural and artistic organizations such as the Provincial Gugak Orchestra and Jeonnam Federation of Arts and Culture, but there are only 60 parking spaces.” He added, “There is idle land nearby, but since it is privately owned, if this land is sold, the parking shortage will become even more severe.”

Assemblyman Jo emphasized, “In July, I also ordered measures to address the parking lots at Namdo Sori Woollimter and the Provincial Library, but they still only repeat that ‘land acquisition is difficult.’” He stressed, “Prepare practical measures, not impossible ones. If Plan A does not work, efforts should begin by establishing Plan B and C.”

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