By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
The Korea Music Awards (KMA), one of the most professional Korean pop music events in the industry, will see a downsize in budget and venue this year, with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism walking out on its support of 30 million won.
The ministry supported the six-year-old event since its third year but the committee announced the ministry's withdrawal through its Web site last February.
``As you all know, the Korea Music Awards started with the notion that music is not just a commercial tool but a form of art with social value, and singers and musicians are not just entertainers but artists. The awards started to reward these people and their music,'' Kim Chang-nam, the KMA committee head, said during a press conference concerning the ministry's withdrawal last week.
He added that the event was able to continue despite financial difficulties thanks to the ministry support and that they did not understand how and why this happened.
``(The ministry said) the change of plans was due to procedural problems. (They) told us that we were too late in applying for the support and that they were planning to support and engage in other projects,'' Kim added.
The ministry announced plans to bring a local chart resembling the Billboard charts of the United States and also an award event like the Grammy Awards at a press conference last month, and their plans were still in effect.
Chang Chi-young, the deputy director of the strategy content industry division, told The Korea Times that they decided to drop out from the support they'd been offering to concentrate more on their new plans and projects and that it would have been complicated to proceed.
``Basically, it's a matter of choice and concentration. We are hoping to bring a chart system and an official award ceremony. The ministry is also looking into bringing new singers and indie musicians to the spotlight, offering them the chance to be exposed at festivals and through television programs,'' Chang said.
``It will not be an event decided by the ministry itself, but through open discussion sessions and research,'' he added.
But for the committee of the KMA, it still seemed unfair to be notified of the withdrawal just a week before the actual event.
``We will join musicians and try to find a way to solve the financial problems and also try to publicize the ceremony and further bring Korean music to the next level,'' Park Eun-sik, a music critic and committee member, said.
Starting in 2004, the KMA differed from the array of music awards held annually at the end of the year. While the star-studded ceremonies have been questioned for being too ``star oriented'' regardless of musical talent and potential, the KMA committee launched the event to bring a practical and fair award ceremony to music fans and singers alike.
With 25 categories, music experts analyze the candidates based on their music, instead of good looks and dancing skills, and has eventually become one of the few events open to the indie scene in a nation where popularity brings everything ― from fans and money to fame.
The 6th Korea Music Awards will be held at the Hakchon Green Theater in Daehangno March 12. Rock singer Yoon Do-hyun and actress Lee Ha-na will host the event.