Up Close and Personal with
Mr Eui Joon KIM

Mr. Eui-Joon Kim, CEO of LG Arts Center in Seoul, has contributed to establishing the LG Arts Center as one of the leading presenting organizations in Korea since the Centre's inception in 1996. LG Arts Center's innovative programming widely acclaimed both locally and internationally, is attributed largely to Mr. Kim's prior experience at Seoul Arts Center as Programming Director.

Under his leadership, LG Arts Center received the Best in the Arts Awards in 2003 awarded by Korean Business Council for the Arts (Korean Mecenat) for its successful collaboration with LG Group to promote culture and arts.

In addition, the Centre was awarded the prestigious Architecture Awards ('Merit Award') in 2001 by USITT (United States Institute for Theatre Technology) for the excellence of its design and high-tech facilities. We are honoured to have Mr Kim share his insights in this issue of Up Close and Personal.


Standing as one of Asia’s largest economy, South Korea has seen some significant development over the years. What do you think of the current economic trends and the arts in Korea?
Although Korean economy has advanced rapidly in such a short time, as the 13th largest in the world, we’re still in the league of developing countries, making the per capita income of less than US$20,000. Moreover, under the recent annual economic growth rate of less than 5%, we haven’t been able to move forward but rather stayed at the same stage for more than 10 years.

As you know, Korea is not an oil-producing country, which means that the most important resource for a nation’s economic development has to be fully imported. And the current Asian economic environment where Japan is too advanced to catch up and China is chasing so fast, makes Korea’s standing rather unstable even in semi-conductor, automobile and shipbuilding industries that used to be our leading industries.

And North Korea’s nuclear ambitions continue to threaten the nation’s security, causing foreign investors reluctant to invest in Korea. Under these unfavorable circumstances, the lengthy economic slump is actually turning around the interest in the arts that was rising.

The arts industry in Korea is solely dependent on the nation’s economy. Most presenting venues in Korea are run or supported by central or municipal governments. Aside from financial dependency of the presenting organizations, the current severe lack of funds for production of the arts ultimately results in more financial burden on audiences. This causes a fluctuating number of audiences, depending, again, on the nation’s economy.

Hence, my wish for Korean arts industry is that the current hardships in the performing arts such as unstable ticket sales and small revenue will be overcome through further economic advancement to achieve US$30,000 per capita income which is comparable to the income level of a developed
country.

Is it possible for the arts to become a profitable business?
I think that some of the commercial performing arts such as musical, jazz, pop music, and circus are making profits. And non-commercial performing arts can also become profitable if it is under very careful planning and management. In other words, there can be many factors to increase its profitability; relevant venue choice with a reasonable seating capacity depending on genre of the presentation, excellence in quality of the presentation, desirable (reasonable) ticket prices, experienced programming staff, number of performances to present, sponsorship and subsidies.

However, it would be an inappropriate and dangerous approach to view the arts as a business that can always be profitable without taking into consideration the genre of presentation because then it would interfere with its very essence, – creativity.

LG Group is a global Korean conglomerate, operating many companies in business fields like electronics, chemicals and telecommunication. Why did LG take the extra step to develop the arts as well?
Corporate existence always goes with making profits, but a corporation exists because there’re consumers who buy its products. Therefore, as a member of society, the corporation has to take its obligation to give some of its profits back to where it belongs. That’s corporate social responsibility.



LG Group is trying to fulfill its social responsibilities through its various non-profit foundations including LG Yeon-Am Foundation for culture, LG Welfare Foundation, LG Education Foundation, LG Sangnam Press Foundation, and LG Ever Green Foundation for environment. LG Arts Center, which is part of the Yeon-Am Foundation, tries to help enhance the performing arts in Korea.
Mr Kim’s Vision...

LG Arts Center should become the presenting venue, widely acclaimed both locally and internationally; first as the venue where both audiences and guest artists are satisfied with services and facilities; second, as the venue where you experience world–class quality of presentations with reasonable prices; and finally, as the venue where distinctive presentations are offered.

To accomplish and realize these visions would be directly related to the enhancement of the LG Group’s corporate image. Therefore, I hope that LG Group and LG Arts Center will be able to gain synergy by boosting each other.


Did you know?

I used to work at Seoul Arts Center which is one of the major performing arts venues in Korea. I was the Director of Programming & Marketing. One day in 1996, I visited LG Group to secure some sponsorship. LG Group had a plan to create a space for performing arts at the time. I was offered to join LG Arts Center for its construction and operation. It was a very challenging task for me to take on. However, I sensed that the management of LG Group respected the arts and the people, and that was one of the reasons I chose to join them.

I enjoy walking as it keeps my mind fresh. I walk two hours everyday, and it’s a great feeling. Although stress can be good for you as it urges you to perform better and to reach a higher goal, it is important not to suffer from unnecessary stress. If you simplify your thoughts by trying to concentrate on the core issues, you can get the answers very quickly. Then you can get rid of unnecessary stress.

I may look rather strict and disciplined at work, but the truth is, I have a good sense of humor and I am a man of heart!