Often found at theaters and museums, Kwon Mee-yoo has covered a wide range of cultural fields from K-pop and dramas to theater and fine art for over a decade. Now as K-Culture Desk editor, she tries to connect Korean culture with global readers through fresh perspectives.
Reaching new dramatic heights
.jpg?w=728)
Kim Yun-cheol, new artistic director of the National Theater Company of Korea, speaks during a press conference at Theater Pan in Seogye-dong, central Seoul, Monday. / Yonhap
By Kwon Mee-yoo
National drama company director talks international relevance
By Kwon Mee-yoo
When the Park Geun-hye government named Kim Yun-cheol as artistic director of the National Theater Company of Korea (NTCK) earlier this month, officials probably did not think they’d made a controversial hire. But the appointment irked some thespians, who claimed Kim was the wrong man because he was a critic, not an artist.
That might be an unfair assessment of the 65-year-old, who was an actor and director before a vocal cord injury forced him to pursue a career as a drama theorist and critic.
But Kim isn’t going out of his way to talk about his younger days, apparently because he sees no need to be apologetic.
In an introductory news conference in Seoul, Monday, Kim said he firmly believes his experience as a critic will help him steer NTCK, which has a reputation for being earnest but unimaginative in its efforts to connect with contemporary theatergoers.
Kim envisages a drama company that is artistically sophisticated and ambitious and also more influential internationally.
“They (my detractors) say I am not the right man because I was ‘away from the scene.’ But you can’t be a critic if you distance yourself from the scene,” Kim said.
“I believe I have been as involved as anyone in Korean theater for the past several decades. My role as an objective observer will be an asset in running this company and pursuing new artistic heights. I am open to all kinds of discussions, new ideas and criticism. I will encourage creative liberty, but will take full responsibility for the decisions made.”
Kim, a Seoul National University graduate, is the founder of the Seoul-based drama company “Maekto.” He earned his master’s degree in theater and cinematic arts at Seoul Chung-Ang University and a Ph.D. in theater and cinematic arts from Brigham Young University in the United States.
Kim was involved in designing the education structure of the Korea National University of Arts (K-Arts), which opened in 1993, and served as the dean of the university’s school of drama.
He is also the current president of the International Association of Theatre Critics (IATC) and was named as the head of the National Archives of the Arts last year.
Kim has a year left before retiring from K-Arts. Until then, he is likely to be a non-permanent artistic director with the national theater company, which is expected to absorb Myeongdong Theater by the end of the year.
The integration of two organizations was suggested during an open forum hosted by the culture ministry in September to reduce overlap and create a stronger state theater company.
Currently, the NTCK is housed at a temporary theater behind Seoul Station. Adding the Myeongdong venue is seen as critical to its future plans.
Kim succeeds Sohn Jin-chaek, whose term ended in November.
The government’s decision not to renew Sohn’s term became apparent in September, when the NTCK staged the play, “Frog,” which was distinctive for its criticism of late dictator Park Chung-hee, the father of the current president.
Kim, who maintains a close relationship with Sohn, stressed that he has no intentions to shy away from political drama.
“I am preparing for a new vision for the NTCK, a theater company that Koreans can be proud of,” he said.
“I think we should pursue artistry, timeliness and modernity to become internationally competitive.”
As for the immediate future, Kim said he was equally interested in modernizing classics and in discovering good new work.
He also called for stronger financial support for the government.
“The annual budget for NTCK is about 5.2 billion won (about $4.9 million), which is about one-twentieth of what the Royal Shakespeare Company gets to use,” he said.
“Of course, we have to do our best with the finances and human resources that are given to us. We will concentrate on improving the quality of our theater productions and I will reorganize the company to be more effective in doing that.”
This includes recruiting the national company’s own actors. Currently, the NTCK has no troupe members and relies on outside participants.
“This measure is essential to establishing the identity of the NTCK. I am going to plan three-year repertoires in advance and recruit our own actors,” he said.
Kim will also utilize his international experience and personal connections as the president of the IATC for six years.
“I will invite internationally distinguished directors to collaborate with the NTCK and increase personal exchange with top national theaters such as the RSC or the National Theatre.”