InterviewARKO chief to showcase Korea’s creative roots at global arts event

Choung Byoung-gug, chairperson of the Arts Council Korea (ARKO), speaks during an interview with The Korea Times in Seoul, April 9. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

"Look! The protest is just as peaceful as a K-pop concert," said Choung Byoung-gug, chairperson of the Arts Council Korea (ARKO), recalling how he reassured international officials worried about political unrest in Korea after former President Yoon Suk Yeol's Dec. 3 martial law declaration.

For Choung, the short-lived martial law and the nationwide rallies that followed were not just political headlines — they reflected Korea’s deeply rooted culture of nonviolence and democratic expression.

Choung and ARKO are currently preparing to host the 10th World Summit on Arts and Culture next month — a major international gathering of arts councils, organizations and policymakers from some 70 countries with around 500 international visitors expected.

It is a rare opportunity for ARKO, an affiliate of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism dedicated to supporting artists and fostering cultural exchange, to host such a large-scale global event. For Choung, a seasoned politician and expert in arts policy, the pressure is on to ensure everything unfolds seamlessly.

“Immediately after Dec. 3, I requested a Zoom call with the secretariat at the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (which hosts the summit alongside ARKO) to explain Korea's situation and address safety concerns,” Choung said during a recent interview with The Korea Times.

Still, worries lingered. At weekly follow-up meetings, ARKO presented videos of Seoul's peaceful, music-filled anti-Yoon protests, juxtaposed with footage of K-pop concerts.

In January, when two officials from the summit secretariat visited Seoul for an on-site inspection, Choung took them directly to a protest site.

“I wanted them to see for themselves how peaceful the demonstrations were,” he said. “At the end of their visit, I asked if they still had safety concerns. Their answer was no.”

Presenting Korea’s creative ecosystem

Although Choung hadn’t planned to spotlight the political crisis, the peaceful nature of the demonstrations left a strong impression on the secretariat. And when delegates and participants arrive in Seoul this May for the summit, he hopes they will experience a deeper, more multifaceted side of Korean culture.

“To outsiders, Korean culture is often defined by 'Parasite,' 'Squid Game' and author Han Kang. But I want to show the creative environment that made those successes possible,” the chairperson explained.

That thinking influenced the choice of the summit venue. Rather than renting a conventional conference center, Choung opted to use ARKO facilities in Seoul’s Daehangno neighborhood — home to Korea’s small-theater scene — including the Artist House, ARKO & Daehakro Arts Theater and ARKO Art Center.

“The ARKO theater, gallery and the small theaters in this area played a significant role in Korea’s cultural development,” he said. “Many 'hallyu' (Korean wave) stars started out in these small theaters. I want the participants to experience this cultural ecosystem and understand what shaped Korean creativity.”

Beyond the venue, ARKO is also planning for guests to experience Korea’s vibrant food culture — from fine dining to street snacks — stroll through a 1392-1910 Joseon-era palace and explore contemporary design at Dongdaemun Design Plaza.

Participants interact with a speaker during the Artist, Producer, Engineer Camp organized by ARKO in Seoul, June 22, 2024. Courtesy of ARKO

Addressing inequality through arts, technology

This year’s summit will focus on the growing technological and informational divide in the arts and how to close that gap.

“At the last summit, the main theme was freedom of expression, which resonated with Korea’s past,” Choung said. “I proposed a new kind of inequality: those with access to information and technology can enjoy the arts, while those without cannot. I said, ‘Let’s address this challenge together.’”

Choung speaks from experience when it comes to expression and oppression. As a young activist in the 1980s, he was part of Korea's democracy movement under military dictator Chun Doo-hwan. He spent two years on the wanted list before being captured and tortured in 1987.

This experience eventually led him to politics, serving five consecutive terms as a National Assembly lawmaker, a presidential secretary to President Kim Young-sam from 1993 to 1997 and culture minister in 2011.

Yet, his passion for the arts predates his political career.

“My love for the arts began much earlier,” he recalled. “In eighth grade, I went to a theater with my classmates. I wasn’t expecting much. But when the curtain rose, I saw actors I had only seen on TV — and at a time when hardly anyone owned a television. That moment changed everything. I promised myself I’d keep going to the theater.”

Choung took the helm at ARKO in January 2023 and sees the role as a privilege.

“ARKO was established even before the culture ministry — at a time when many Koreans struggled just to eat,” he said. “But even then, artists dreamed of a future where art would thrive. That dream has become a reality and ARKO continues its mission to support artists and ensure that all citizens can enjoy cultural life.”

Choung Byoung-gug, center, chairperson of the Arts Council Korea (ARKO), serves Korean rice balls to guests at the Gwangju Biennale Pavilion during the Venice Biennale in Italy in this file photo from April 22, 2024. Korea Times photo by Lee Hye-mi

ARKO provides funding for Korean artists and cultural organizations while also expanding access through outreach to marginalized communities.

In recent years, its international collaborations have grown notably. Starting this year, ARKO will launch a new residency program for foreign artists. It also supports cultural projects in six rural Korean villages at risk of depopulation, fostering cross-border partnerships with other small communities worldwide.

The Artist, Producer, Engineer Camp (APE Camp) promotes collaboration between the arts and engineering. This year’s edition, held during the summit, will feature 100 participants — including 40 from overseas.

“Now, many artists want to come to Korea and collaborate with Korean creatives,” Choung said, citing the unprecedented success of Korea’s pavilion at last year’s Venice Biennale.

“The Korean Pavilion marked its 30th year with a special exhibition titled 'Every Island is a Mountain.' It became the most popular pavilion at the biennale. Over 500 people attended our opening party, and in total, 430,000 visited the Korean Pavilion.”