By Chung Hyun-chae
The art community will become the latest group to stand up to condemn President Park Geun-hye, who is in trouble after allegedly letting her friend dictate state affairs.
A committee comprised from the Korean People Artist Federation, the Writers Association of Korea and the Cultural Action said Sunday that its members would gather at Gwanghwamun Square, central Seoul, on Nov. 2, to call for Park to resign and for responsible for the mess in the culture ministry to be punished.
The art community has suffered considerably under Park’s government as it cracked down on people speaking out against the administration.
The committee posted a statement on a Facebook account of the Daehangno X Forum, a group of young stage actors, Saturday.
“We are shocked to find so much corruption in the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism,” the committee said in the statement.
It criticized Cha Eun-taek, a well-known music video and commercial film producer and a close contact of Choi, for manipulating his power garnered through his connection with Choi.
Cha faces allegations that he managed the Mir Foundation, a non-profit organization promoting Korean culture, without holding a position.
“The nation's cultural policies were there to serve the business interests of Choi and Cha,” the statement read.
It also named those who held important positions by using personal connections with Choi and Cha, including former Culture Minister Kim Jong-deok who was Cha’s professor and at one time a business associate.
Kim had replaced Yoo Jin-ryong who was fired in July 2014 after clashing with Park.
Two other culture ministry officials were fired after refusing to comply with Choi, who wanted her daughter, Chung Yoo-ra, to be a national dressage competitor.
“It’s become obvious that these people exercised power to create a blacklist of artists earlier this month,” the committee said.
The artists claim Cheong Wa Dae drafted the blacklist, and they want an investigation.
More than 200 artists have signed the Facebook declaration as of Sunday.
The committee plans to read the declaration on Nov. 2 and then hold a press conference.