By Kim Se-jeong
Ruling and opposition parties have agreed to push for legislation of basic welfare benefits for artists by providing them with “employee status,” under which they will be eligible for state-run insurance like ordinary workers.
The Bill on Artists’ Status and Welfare will be put to a vote as early as this month if it gets approval from related government agencies as scheduled, lawmakers said.
Under the proposed measures, the government will give artists employee status making them eligible for unemployment insurance.
The government also plans to create the Artists Welfare Foundation, which will help poor artists make ends meet.
Rep. Choi Chong-won of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) said the bill, if passed, will enhance the quality of life for talented but “hungry” artists.
Choi, acknowledging insecure working conditions for artists, called for systematic welfare provision for artists.
“Artists are unable to get assistance from the government under the current system if their parents or children fall sick. The Korean economy, now, has achieved a lot, and time has come to look after them,” Choi said.
“Artists aren’t asking for an exceptional treatment from society. They just want a more customized welfare system that would protect their basic rights better.”
Under the current law, artists, often without a regular paycheck, are categorized as unemployed.
The bill on promoting their welfare was proposed three years ago, yet hasn’t reached the chamber for a vote.
The issue drew keen attention following the death of Choi Ko-un, 32, a short-film scenario writer.
She was found dead in her room in Gyeonggi Province. Cheoi had already suffered minor sicknesses, but th cause of her death was malnutrition and ensuing health deterioration. Next to her was a note reading, “If anyone has spare rice and kimchi, please knock on my door.”
Kim wrote scenarios for a few short films, one of which won an award at the Asia Short Film Festival.
Rep. Choi said hope is running high this time with strong determination from all sides involved. The fact that former Chairman of the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports, Tourism, Broadcasting and Communications Committee Chung Byung-kok is now culture minister is raising hopes for early legislation, the lawmaker said.
A strong demand is also coming from the artist community, the lawmaker said. In fact, they are scheduled to gather today outside the National Assembly, calling for the passage of the bill.
According to news reports, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance and the Ministry of Employment and Labor have opposed the bill, citing the financial burden and a question of legitimacy in giving artists employee status.
Some artists, including Jeeane Kim, a film scenario writer, are also skeptical about the legislation.
“Unless the entire film industry gets strong and independent financially, the passage of the bill won’t make things better,” Kim said.