Min Hyungbae: "In an Impeachment Crisis, Exercise Restraint in Personnel Appointments"

Pushing for the Merger of Five National Arts Organizations
Certain Individuals Being 'Planted' by the Yoon Administration
"Serious Undermining of Independence in the Cultural and Artistic Community"

Min Hyungbae, Member of the National Assembly.

Min Hyungbae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (representing Gwangsan-eul, Gwangju), stated on the 4th, "I strongly criticize the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (hereinafter referred to as MCST) for blatantly revealing its intention to exclude certain individuals and push in new personnel while merging five national arts organizations."

In a press release issued that day, Min said, "The MCST is seriously undermining the independence of the cultural and artistic community," and warned, "Stop the privatization of public institutions and the practice of appointing 'my people' to suit political interests immediately."

Currently, the MCST plans to form the new board of the National Performing Arts Organization, which will be established after merging five existing national arts organizations, centering on board members whose terms have not yet expired. However, heads of arts organizations appointed during the Moon Jaein administration have been excluded from the list of ex officio directors, and the previous provision allowing them to continue their duties until successors are appointed has been changed to require the minister's approval.

Min stated, "Given that this is being carried out intensively ahead of Yoon Sukyeol's impeachment, there appears to be an ulterior motive. During an impeachment crisis, the exercise of personnel authority should be restrained," adding, "There is also suspicion that the Office of the President may be behind all these measures."

Meanwhile, the MCST plans to appoint one sponsor chairman from each of the five arts organizations as a director when the terms of non-ex officio directors of the National Performing Arts Organization end in 2027. If Song Byungjun, chairman of Com2uS and current sponsor chairman of the National Ballet Company, maintains his position, he could become a director of the National Performing Arts Organization. Com2uS is a domestic gaming company that donated 200 million won to Kobana Contents, run by Kim Keonhee. When Yoon Sukyeol was chief prosecutor at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, the prosecution dropped charges against Song Byungjun regarding allegations of illegal sponsorship.

Previously, the MCST announced its plan to integrate the boards of five national arts organizations?National Opera Company, National Choir, National Symphony Orchestra, National Ballet Company, and National Contemporary Dance Company?within the first half of this year.

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