Focus on fusing tradition with the contemporary: Choe

Combining Korean traditional culture with contemporary culture, sports and tourism will be key to promoting the country, said Choe Kwang-shik, 58, culture, sports and tourism minister designate.

“Patchworks best represent Korean culture. It shows a unified beauty by connecting different pieces. I will try to conduct a cultural administration based on such values of communication and creation,” said Choe, current head of the Cultural Heritage Administration, during a press conference at the National Palace Museum of Korea Wednesday. Choe was formerly the head of the National Museum of Korea.

He added that he will try to develop regional cultures more as the cultural scene in South Korea right now is too metropolitan-focused.

Choe is the first historian to be nominated for the post. He was recognized for a number of successful events, including hosting the banquet for the G20 Seoul Summit held at the National Museum of Korea last November.

On the issue of the culture budget, he said he shares the opinion of outgoing Culture Minister Choung Byung-gug.

“I agree on how Minister Choung put in great efforts to increase the budget. The budget on cultural contents is currently 1.1 percent of the GDP, and it should be increased to at least 2 percent. Cultural welfare should be considered as important as social welfare in the future,” said Choe.

By Park Min-young  (claire@heraldcorp.com)