'Suitability Controversy' Choi Hui-yeong Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Nominee "Heavy Responsibility.. Will Speak at Hearing" (Comprehensive)

[Financial News] Choi Hui-yeong, nominee for Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, expressed his thoughts to the press as he arrived for the first time at the personnel hearing preparation office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 14th, saying, "I feel a heavy sense of responsibility for taking on this important role." 
Nominee Choi said, "When we look back at the achievements and triumphs that the cultural and artistic community has accomplished so far, isn't it truly remarkable?" and "We all feel infinite pride. We will strive to ensure that we are truly making the most of this tremendous opportunity, and to determine what needs to be done to make our cultural potential bigger and stronger, examining these things from a slightly different perspective and viewpoint than before."
He added, "We will also strive to ensure that all fields, including culture, arts, sports, and tourism, are well-prepared for the imminent AI era."
Born in 1964, he is from Busan and graduated from the Department of English Language and Literature at Sogang University. He worked as a reporter for Yonhap News and YTN, served as CEO of NHN (Naver) and Interpark Triple, and is currently the CEO of Nol Universe.
Due to his career being limited to the IT and tourism sectors, there have been concerns in some parts of the cultural community about whether he is suitable for the position of Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, which oversees a wide range of fields including arts and sports.
The cultural and arts civic group, Cultural Solidarity, criticized on the 11th, saying, "If we look at nominee Choi's career and activities, excluding his expertise in the tourism sector, it is questionable whether he can demonstrate expertise in other areas of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's policy domain, and whether he can play a role in establishing and promoting integrated cultural policies suitable for the new era," and "The Lee Jae-myung administration seems to be ignoring the diverse expectations and voices from the field regarding the cultural sector, jumping into the fog." 
On this day, nominee Choi responded to such concerns by saying, "I will speak at the hearing."
Kang Hoon-sik, the Presidential Secretary, introduced nominee Choi on the 11th during a briefing at the Presidential Office in Yongsan, Seoul, saying, "Nominee Choi is a person with diverse career and experience, including as a reporter, online portal CEO, and travel platform entrepreneur," and "He is the new CEO in the field of culture, sports, and tourism who will realize the President's vision of opening the 300 trillion won K-Culture market era based on expertise and freshness from the private sector."

rsunjun@fnnews.com Yuseon Jun Reporter