South Korean theater groups protest appointment of National Children and Youth Theater director

The South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is facing intense backlash from the performing arts community following the appointment of Eo Yeon-seon as the inaugural director and artistic director of the newly established National Children and Youth Theater.

Over 330 individuals and organizations, including eight major performing arts associations such as Assitej Korea, the Korea Playwrights Association, and the Korea Theater Directors Association, have issued a joint statement demanding the immediate withdrawal of the appointment. Critics argue that Eo, the former head of the Gwangmyeong Cultural Foundation, lacks the necessary expertise in children and youth performing arts. While the Ministry described Eo as an expert in both performance directing and arts administration, protesters contend that her recent career has focused primarily on general administration rather than the specialized aesthetic and developmental needs of young audiences.

The controversy comes as the National Children and Youth Theater transitions into an independent entity from the Children and Youth Theater Research Institute, which has operated since 2011. Industry experts expressed concern that appointing an administrator over a specialist could undermine the artistic direction of the institution, especially as South Korea prepares to host the 22nd Assitej World Congress in 2027.