"What a bolt from the blue during exams. Students first learned from an article that the school would be moved."
A student identified as A, whom we met on the morning of the 28th at the Seokgwan-dong campus of the Korea National University of Arts (K-ARTS) in Seongbuk District, Seoul, sighed as the student said this. The student said, "They didn't even ask students for their opinions in advance," and noted, "Everyone feels blindsided." Talk of a campus transfer was circulating across campus during midterms.
With about a month to go before the 9th nationwide local elections (the June 3 local elections), the issue of transferring K-ARTS, Korea's top arts talent training institution, has resurfaced as a political flashpoint.
◇ "Even buying art supplies outside Seoul isn't easy"
Chung Joon-ho, a Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker (Gwangju Buk-gap), on the 22nd led the introduction of the "Act on the Establishment and Operation of the Korea National University of Arts," which includes transferring K-ARTS to the integrated special local government of South Jeolla and Gwangju (tentatively named Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Metropolitan City), slated to launch in July. The bill also includes creating graduate programs for master's and doctoral degrees. Chung's office said it was "a plan for balanced national development in the arts."
But the mood on campus itself was chilly. Students agreed that with culture and arts infrastructure concentrated in Seoul, merely relocating the campus would make it difficult to deliver proper education.
A K-ARTS student identified as B said, "In Seoul, art supply stores, workshops, galleries, and professional artist networks are clustered," adding, "For fine arts majors, where do you get materials and where do you get chances to show your work? That's a matter of survival."
The K-ARTS student council and the presidents of each department's student councils also issued a statement on the 23rd expressing the same concern. They cited the fact that 36.9% of cultural facilities are in the greater Seoul area and 82.7% of performance ticket sales are in the capital region.
They said, "Why should K-ARTS bear responsibility for the government's neglect of Seoul-centric concentration?" and added, "We oppose cutting and pasting an Asia-leading arts university to achieve political goals."
The K-ARTS student council is scheduled to issue an additional statement at 3 p.m. that day at the Seokgwan-dong campus opposing the transfer of K-ARTS to the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Metropolitan City.
◇ With more than 3,000 students alone … "They're taking the transfer lightly"
K-ARTS staff and alumni also reacted negatively. A graduate of the K-ARTS School of Film said, "There are more than 3,000 students alone, and it feels like they hastily pulled out the transfer plan ahead of the elections," adding, "They're tossing around (the campus transfer) far too lightly."
A person surnamed Kim, who has worked in cleaning at K-ARTS for 18 years, said, "If students don't want it, who's going to go?" adding, "This isn't just a school; it's the foundation of people's lives."
Businesses around the campus are actually on edge. According to the Seoul commercial district analysis service, at eateries near Dolgoji Station on Subway Line 6, close to the main gate of K-ARTS' Seokgwan-dong campus, and at nearby Sangwolgok Station, people in their 20s and 30s account for 30% to up to 50% of sales. If K-ARTS moves, the hit to business will be unavoidable.
A person identified as C, who runs a real estate office in Seokgwan-dong, said, "The back-gate area of K-ARTS might be less affected because of Kyunghee University and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, but near the main gate, delivery restaurants, studio apartment rentals, and the like will likely struggle."
◇ Ahead of the elections, everyone is pushing a K-ARTS transfer
This is not the first time talk of transferring K-ARTS has surfaced. The Seokgwan-dong campus sits next to Uireung, a Joseon royal tomb and UNESCO World Heritage site, and discussions about a K-ARTS transfer have continued since 2009 to restore Uireung. Seoul's Songpa, Seocho, and Nowon districts; Gwacheon and Goyang in Gyeonggi; and Seo District in Incheon were mentioned as candidates, but no conclusion was reached due to massive transfer expenses and issues with integrating campuses.
But ahead of these local elections, not only South Jeolla and Gwangju but other regions are also pledging to host it. Democratic Party of Korea gubernatorial candidate Choo Mi-ae pledged to bring it to the Gyeonggi region, and Sejong mayoral candidate Cho Sang-ho proposed a transfer to Sejong.
◇ K-ARTS says "A transfer without preparation will reduce educational efficiency"
K-ARTS, the party directly affected, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the relevant ministry, say nothing has been decided about where or when to transfer.
K-ARTS issued a statement that day saying, "A physical transfer (of the campus) without sufficient preparation will reduce the efficiency of the arts education system and hinder the growth of national arts assets."
It added, "What is needed now is not a school transfer but practical support to upgrade the educational environment and strengthen ties with the arts field," and said, "Before unilaterally pushing (a transfer), please listen to and respect the voice of the school."