(The CEN News / Reporter Jeong Seong-hoon) President Lee Jae-myung on March 15 called for institutional reforms, saying government support for the arts often fails to reach practitioners on the ground.
Speaking at a roundtable with local artists at the Changdong Art Village Art Center in Changwon, he said, “As artistic fields become more specialized, policies often stall before they reach the field and fail to directly reach practitioners.”
He added that the sector’s emphasis on originality, creativity and freedom makes unity difficult, a structural trait that hampers policy implementation and the delivery of support.
Lee also warned of unintended consequences in some support programs. “In some cases, government funding becomes a vehicle for corruption,” he said, noting that while overseeing local administration he observed cases in which intermediaries within related organizations siphoned off funds intended for creators.
“We plan to expand support programs, but under the current system it could be like pouring water into a bottomless jar,” he said, warning that aid risks reaching only a handful of beneficiaries.
Lee said South Korea has grown into a cultural powerhouse, yet the arts sector’s foundation remains fragile. “To be blunt, it sometimes feels like a lack of oxygen is causing it to rot,” he said.
He urged greater collaboration between the arts community and government to address and remedy these problems.
First Lady Kim Hye-kyung also attended the roundtable. The president invited her to speak, noting, “You’re more closely connected to cultural matters, aren’t you?”
Kim said she often wonders, when asked about K-culture on overseas trips, why Korea has become so admired. “Meeting you today made me realize that’s possible because artists working on the ground—like peripheral nerves or capillaries—keep the system alive,” she said.
She added, “I support all of you who persevere under difficult conditions. Don’t hesitate to make many requests of him,” drawing laughter from the audience.
(The CEN News — Reporter Jeong Seong-hoon) until03@naver.com
