The Launch of the Pan-Citizen Cultural Movement Organization

The Pan-Citizen Cultural Movement Organization will start from May at the earlist.
One of the movement's leading organizers is renowned poet Kim Ji Ha, who said on April 16, 'The discussion to start 'Cultural Reform Citizen Solidarity'(a tentative name) is ongoing in order to efficiently cope with the rapidly changing internal and external cultural environment.'
Kim added,'This organization will present diverse suggestions for cultural reform internally and the necessity of cultural sovereignty externally.'
The formal charter of the organization, now in the stage of discussion, will likely bring new changes in the cultural movement.
The very idea of the association's was inaugurated by proposals proffered by some academics including Professor Sim Kwang Hyun of The National University of Arts, Professor Kim Woo Chang of Korea University, Professor Kang Lae Hee of Chung Ang University, and Professor Do Jung Il of Kyung Hee University. Those professors along with others disclosed their intention to actively participate in the much-needed cultural movement.
The poet, Kim, is encouraging the association's foundation based on his fervent belief that it is essential to the popularization of his recent idea, called the 'Yullyu movement'.
The following is an interview with Kim and Professor Sim.
-What is the 'Cultural Reform Citizens Solidarity'?
=Professor Sim : A kind of citizen movement. But we limit the catagory only within culture. We will look for the developmental direction of culture, criticize selectively governmental policy, and expand the cultural sovereignty movement externally.
-What's the background of promoting this organization?
=Poet Kim : Internally culture is still squeezed by economic constraints. Externally we have to tackle the WTO's New-round(Millenium Round), whose discussion is scheduled in the latter half of this year.
-Do you think we are not coping with that positively?
=Poet Kim : Yes. Simply speaking, culture and science are the core of the 21st century's storehouse. But we still think the economic argument and the problems of the previous 40-50 years have not been solved yet. In short, cultural concerns have fallen behind the other parts in reforming.
-Why is the cultural sovereignty movement necessary?
=Poet Kim : Recently, I urged the necessity of 'an agreement on cultural diversity', when the screen quota problem came up. Following the idea of the agreement on the diversity of kinds, every culture should be recognized for its own values. For example, in the movie industry the U.S. occupies 80 percent of the world market, while other countries fell as victims. Cultural sovereignty movements are active in many countries.
-Who are the participants and what's the time schedule?
=Professor Sim : Discussions have just started, so we cannot draw the whole outline. We should know at the end of this month. We will have a project meeting to discuss the direction of the organization's identity and activities at the end of April, and hold a foundation meeting in May.
Jooan Kang : jooan@joongang.co.kr