Experts urge Culture Ministry to restart hiring process for National Gugak Center head, post traditionally held by gugak community
The ongoing recruitment process for the new head of the National Gugak Center has sparked controversy, as members of Korea’s traditional music community raise concerns over one of the three finalists — a senior official from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
On Tuesday, an emergency committee of former directors and researchers at the center urged the Culture Ministry to restart the selection process, questioning its fairness and motives.
Culture Minister Yu In-chon denied any interference, saying the official in question had applied for the post of his own volition. However, he also criticized the long-standing practice of appointing directors from the same school, as Seoul National University alumni have held the post for decades.
The committee refuted the accusation, citing the historical roots of gugak education. “When gugak was on the verge of disappearing, the first high school was founded in 1955, and Seoul National University launched its gugak department in 1959,” said Kim Hee-sun, a former research director. “It wasn’t until the 1970s that other universities followed.”
Former director Kim Young-woon added that the trend is already changing as more diverse talents emerge.
They argued that the elevated status of the National Gugak Center might be behind the move and raised questions about a presidential decree revision in December last year allowing all civil servants to apply for the post.
The center's director position was elevated to be equivalent to the deputy minister level in 2020. The position has remained vacant for 10 months since Kim stepped down in June 2024. Such a long vacancy is unprecedented, the committee claimed.
The committee also questioned whether an official with little gugak expertise could effectively lead the institution.
“The director’s role is to lead cultural policy, not just manage operations,” Kim said. “Gugak is not something to be managed through bureaucracy,” Kim added. “Minister Yu In-chon, as an artist himself, should understand this better than anyone else. It’s hard to understand why the Culture Ministry is trying to place a government official in this role.”
On Wednesday, 54 gugak professors from 13 universities issued a joint statement urging the government to halt and restart the hiring process.
“Any personnel decision that undermines the historical significance and identity of gugak is unacceptable. The director of the National Gugak Center must be someone with expertise in gugak and proven artistic capability,” the statement read.
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