ID :
69367
Tue, 07/07/2009 - 19:57
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/69367
The shortlink copeid
Culture minister vows to bolster rights of celebrities
By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, July 6 (Yonhap) -- Actor-turned Culture Minister Yu In-chon vowed Monday
to make correctional measures to the nation's entertainment sector to better
protect the rights of celebrities, who are often violated by unfair contract
terms.
Yu's remarks came as police reopened their investigation into the suicide of a
young starlet who was allegedly forced to provide sexual favors to high-powered
entertainment officials and journalists, an unspoken but common practice in the
local entertainment industry that which takes advantage of young female actresses
trying to become famous.
"Our entertainment sector has become somewhat of a national brand that has formed
a massive market not just here, but throughout Southeast Asia and the Middle
East," Yu said in an opening speech at a parliamentary seminar Monday. "There is
an urgent need for us to correct the wrong in order to improve and continue
developing the industry."
Actress Jang Ja-yeon hanged herself at her house on March 7, leaving behind a
suicide note that said she had been forced by her agent to serve and provide
sexual favors to big names in entertainment. Jang's former agent, identified only
by his surname of Kim, is currently being questioned by police after he was
extradited from Japan, where he was hiding.
"In a survey conducted during my term as the chairman of the entertainers' labor
union in the 1990s, the majority of stars said they wanted most to be treated
properly as human beings," Minister Yu added. "Getting proper financial treatment
came after that."
Yu, 58, debuted as a stage actor in 1971, moving to television two years later
and becoming one of the most widely known actors in Korea. He was appointed as
culture minister last year.
Unfair deals between entertainers and agent firms, commonly dubbed "slave
contracts" here, must be abolished once and for all, the minister added.
Monday's seminar for discussions on how to improve the entertainment industry was
held at the parliament and attended by lawmakers, experts and celebrities.
hayney@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, July 6 (Yonhap) -- Actor-turned Culture Minister Yu In-chon vowed Monday
to make correctional measures to the nation's entertainment sector to better
protect the rights of celebrities, who are often violated by unfair contract
terms.
Yu's remarks came as police reopened their investigation into the suicide of a
young starlet who was allegedly forced to provide sexual favors to high-powered
entertainment officials and journalists, an unspoken but common practice in the
local entertainment industry that which takes advantage of young female actresses
trying to become famous.
"Our entertainment sector has become somewhat of a national brand that has formed
a massive market not just here, but throughout Southeast Asia and the Middle
East," Yu said in an opening speech at a parliamentary seminar Monday. "There is
an urgent need for us to correct the wrong in order to improve and continue
developing the industry."
Actress Jang Ja-yeon hanged herself at her house on March 7, leaving behind a
suicide note that said she had been forced by her agent to serve and provide
sexual favors to big names in entertainment. Jang's former agent, identified only
by his surname of Kim, is currently being questioned by police after he was
extradited from Japan, where he was hiding.
"In a survey conducted during my term as the chairman of the entertainers' labor
union in the 1990s, the majority of stars said they wanted most to be treated
properly as human beings," Minister Yu added. "Getting proper financial treatment
came after that."
Yu, 58, debuted as a stage actor in 1971, moving to television two years later
and becoming one of the most widely known actors in Korea. He was appointed as
culture minister last year.
Unfair deals between entertainers and agent firms, commonly dubbed "slave
contracts" here, must be abolished once and for all, the minister added.
Monday's seminar for discussions on how to improve the entertainment industry was
held at the parliament and attended by lawmakers, experts and celebrities.
hayney@yna.co.kr
(END)
