Minister Choi Hwiyeong: "Devastated by Sexual Violence in Gugak Community... I Will Hold Perpetrators Accountable to the End"

Choi Hwi-young, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said he felt devastated and outraged by the recent sexual violence cases in the gugak community, and vowed, as the minister in charge, to hold the perpetrators accountable to the end.

In a post on social media on November 9, Minister Choi said, "I cannot hide my devastation and anger after learning about the sexual violence suffered by people in the gugak community." He added, "I am at a loss for words over the appalling pain of victims who were unable to speak out despite suffering deep wounds in places of learning that should have been the safest, and while preparing for stages where they should have been able to shine." He continued, "As the minister in charge of protecting artists, I feel an immense sense of responsibility and offer my deepest apologies," emphasizing, "I will do this properly. I will stand by the victims and hold the perpetrators accountable to the end."

Reports have recently emerged of sexual violence cases at schools and arts organizations in the gugak community that are managed and supervised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. These include allegations of group sexual assault and illegal filming involving students at the National High School of Traditional Korean Arts, as well as a case in which a performer with the National Gugak Orchestra sexually molested a student. The National High School of Traditional Korean Arts is a national school affiliated with the ministry, and the National Gugak Orchestra is an affiliated arts company of the National Theater of Korea, which is also under the ministry.

Minister Choi also outlined specific follow-up measures. He said he would first meet with traditional performing artists who proposed a joint statement on sexual violence in the gugak community to hear their views, then form a public-private task force (TF) to review the community's vulnerable practices and conditions and develop measures to prevent recurrence.

On November 7, the Emergency Action Group of Traditional Performing Artists released a "Joint Statement on Sexual Violence in the Gugak Community" and began collecting signatures. The statement, which spread through Facebook, Instagram and other platforms, drew support from people across the arts community, including the gugak community, as well as from various sectors of society. According to the group, 3,193 people had signed the statement as of 9 a.m. on November 9.

Minister Choi also said that a special reporting period for sexual violence cases would be held through the end of the year at the Artist Complaint Center, schools affiliated with the ministry, and national and public arts organizations, and that reported cases would be thoroughly investigated. In particular, he expressed his resolve to take strong action, saying, "Perpetrators confirmed to have committed sexual violence will never again be allowed to perform, teach, serve as judges, or take part in hiring."

He also said the ministry would work with education authorities to review how sexual violence cases at schools are handled and establish measures to protect underage victims. He added that, if necessary, it would request a public-interest audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection, and strengthen victim protection systems by expanding the number of investigators at the Artist Complaint Center and conducting regular on-site inspections.

Minister Choi emphasized, "I will see this through until traditional arts settings become places where people can learn, teach and take the stage with peace of mind."

In its joint statement, the Emergency Action Group called for perpetrators of sexual violence to be held strictly accountable, victims to be protected, the gugak community to reflect on its conduct, and the government and relevant agencies to establish effective measures to prevent recurrence. It stressed in particular that sexual violence in the gugak community must not be dismissed as the misconduct of a few individuals. It said such cases would inevitably continue unless practices and hierarchical structures that make it difficult for victims to speak up—including those involved in admissions, hiring, recommendations and casting—were reformed.

To that end, the group called for a survey of sexual violence across schools and universities, private lessons, national and public arts organizations, and performance venues. It also outlined specific areas for improvement, including establishing independent reporting and counseling channels, excluding interested parties from investigations, protecting underage victims, setting standards for private lessons between teachers and students, and preventing conflicts of interest in admissions, hiring and auditions.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.