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Culture minister seeks to revitalize arts, tourism of Jeju Island
Culture Minister Yu In-chon, center, attends a performance at Haenyeo Kitchen on Jeju Island, Thursday, as part of his trip to inspect the island's arts and culture scene. Courtesy of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
By Pyo Kyung-min
The official poster for this year's Jeju International Wind Ensemble Festival / Courtesy of Jeju International Wind Ensemble Festival
JEJU ISLAND — Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Yu In-chon visited Jeju Island, Thursday, to inspect the island's arts and culture scene during its peak season.
The minister's itinerary included cycling along the Jeju Fantasy Bicycle Path, watching a performance at Haenyeo Kitchen, participating in a conference with local artists and attending the opening ceremony of the Jeju International Wind Ensemble Festival (JIWEF).
According to the ministry, Yu aimed to "gather insights from local arts and culture groups on revitalizing Jeju’s cultural landscape."
Yu became the first culture minister to attend the opening of the local musical festival in its 29th year.
The JIWEF invites contestants in wind, percussion instruments and composition to perform at various outdoor landmarks, including the Jeju Stone Park and Cheonjiyeon Waterfall.
During his stay, the minister also attended the Jeju Local Artist Conference at the Jeju National Museum, where more than 20 local artists gathered to discuss ways to boost arts and culture activities on the island.
Representatives from Seyire Art Center, Maro Inc. and the Jeju Traditional Music Group Dumoak, three of which were selected as Jeju’s representative arts organizations for 2024 through a ministry competition, also attended the event.
Culture Minister Yu In-chon pays a silent tribute to a Korean War monument along the Jeju Fantasy Bicycle Path, Thursday, as part of his trip to inspect the island's arts and culture scene. Courtesy of MCST
Kim Yi-young, president of the Seyire Art Center, highlighted the challenges faced by Jeju's theater community during the conference.
"We thespians love our creations, but it's ironic that we can't make a living from it. The notion that one cannot survive on theater alone is widespread," Kim said. "I wish that the ministry's local culture promotion projects will serve as a catalyst for the growth of theater so that theater artists can make a living from their work."
Yu responded to these concerns by acknowledging the current challenges faced by the artists of Jeju. “In an era of declining populations and regional extinction, the arts have the power to bring people together," the actor-turned-minister said.
"We will actively support Jeju’s diverse arts and tourism activities so that both domestic and international tourists can experience Jeju’s unique charms, including the Jeju International Wind Ensemble Festival, which has attracted tourists and nurtured talented young artists for the past 29 years.”