[Opinion] Cheong Wa Dae’s Taste in Art

In November 2005, President Roh Mu-hyun and his wife visited the personal exhibition of Chun Hyuk-lim, a veteran painter from Tongyeong, Gyeongnam. The painting titled “Tongyeong Port,” which was hung on the wall of the reception room of Cheong Wa Dae, was the one President Roh ordered at this occasion. This large painting that measures 7m wide and 2.8m high was often screened behind the President when events in Cheong Wa Dae were broadcast.

Candidate Lee Hae-chan of the United New Democratic Party, one of the most powerful figures in the current administration, reported 13 paintings when revealing his property holdings recently. He reportedly enjoys visiting galleries on holidays.

Cheong Wa Dae is located close to Insadong and Samcheongdong, where many galleries and art museums stand close to one another, and officials are often found visiting exhibitions. In any society, collections of art works are a symbol of success. Expensive works of art are the exclusive property of the high-class as distinguished from other luxury goods. Taste in art among figures in the current administration is something that they would not have dreamed of when they were human rights lawyers or social activists, and is a symbol that they have advanced as a group with vested power.

In the Joseon Dynasty era, too, most politicians were art-lovers or painters themselves. Gyeomjae Jeong Seon, a painter who represents Joseon, was formerly a noble official and governor. Kings in the Joseon era left works of art and calligraphy more outstanding than those done by professionals. Sukjong, Yeongjo, and Jeongjo were kings who possessed magisterial skills in paintings and writings. For them, art was a compulsory course in education. Kings were trained in poetry, painting, and writing in addition to the books of Confucian theory. The aim of such education was to create a perfect personality.

While the taste of art in Joseon era aimed self-betterment through artistic training, those in the current administration display traits of extravagancy and power hunger. Former presidential secretary for policy planning Byeon Yang-gyun was blinded by his inability to tell between what to do and what not to do, and by personal emotions between him and Shin Jeong-ah. After the current administration showed it was incapable of administrating state affairs, its only pride left was its morality. Now its morality has been tainted by corruption in the entourage. Those without talent mock the taste of art among the higher classes.

Hong Chan-sik, Editorial Writer, chansik@donga.com