[Stage Voices]Is the Relocation of National Arts Organizations to the Provinces Something to Rush?

When I was a freshman in college, I watched my first play in Daehangno. The play that the professor assigned us to write a review on was "The Good Person of Szechwan" by the German playwright Bertolt Brecht (1898?1956). It was only years later that I realized it was a masterpiece by a master who greatly influenced modern theater. The play was neither entertaining nor easy to understand. However, the experience of watching a play itself was shocking. The resonance created by the actors' live voices was immense. The feeling of their voices swirling around the theater space and striking my ears was unfamiliar. I wondered, "Could this be what receiving a divine revelation feels like?" Back home, watching something meant at most a movie. Theater was out of the question. It was the first time I truly felt the immense cultural benefits enjoyed in Seoul.

Because of the sharp memory of that first play 28 years ago, I fully agree with the current Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s emphasis on the vision of "balanced regional cultural development." Balanced regional cultural development is the first of six core tasks in "Cultural Korea 2035," the mid- to long-term cultural policy vision announced recently by the Ministry for the next ten years. The Ministry is prioritizing the relocation of national arts organizations and institutions to regions as a key implementation task. However, there is an impression that things are being rushed and communication is not properly taking place.

At the briefing on Cultural Korea 2035 by the Ministry, I had doubts about the lack of preparation. On site, it was pointed out that the relocation of national arts organizations to the provinces was not even included in the materials during the public hearing on Cultural Korea 2035 (then called "Cultural Vision 2035") last November. The Ministry’s response that discussions had been ongoing even though it was not included in the materials seemed unconvincing.

Performance scene of Seoul Arts Troupe's 'A Thousand Blues' [Photo provided by Seoul Arts Troupe]

Communication with the actual members of the arts organizations, who are the most important stakeholders, appears to be inadequate. The Ministry said it is common to start discussions by exchanging opinions with a few key people. But if it continues like this, it can only be criticized as a one-way administrative approach.

On the 21st, members of the National Theater’s arts union reportedly refused to attend a meeting arranged by the Ministry with National Theater employees. Recently, the arts union strongly opposed the Ministry’s plan to corporatize the National Theater by placing condolence wreaths throughout the theater.

There is also concern that relocating arts organizations to the provinces could potentially dismantle the organizations themselves. For example, the Seoul Arts Troupe, which the Ministry is pushing to relocate to Gwangju next year, reportedly has many members who are mothers with young children. There are worries that many members will quit upon relocation. This could result in only an empty shell of the organization moving. This raises a fundamental question: Is relocating national arts organizations to the provinces truly the best way to achieve balanced cultural development, or would it be better to support the provinces in nurturing their own arts organizations?

Arts organization officials unanimously agree with the purpose of balanced regional cultural development. However, they point out that this is not something to be rushed as it is now. From the perspective of Minister Yoo In-chon of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, since relocation to the provinces is a difficult task, someone has to take responsibility. But even so, if the entire arts community is issuing statements opposing the plan, it is necessary to take a moment to breathe. Wisdom is needed to turn the current conflict into a foundation for constructive discussions in the future.

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