Seoul, Korea. On Aug. 24th, the Democratic United Party (main opposition party) took a strong stance against the outsourcing of the KBS Symphony, insisting that transferring the orchestra to a private institution would prevent it from delivering its mission of public service.
KBS has officially announced the dissolution of the KBSSO (taking effect on August 31st), without any prior discussion with the orchestra representatives nor the trade union. The KBS statement confirms that those musicians who will not sign the transfer agreement will cease to work for the orchestra — some of them might be appointed to administrative divisions of KBS without any link with music.
the vast majority of the musicians have decided not so sign the agreement
In spite of that, the vast majority of the musicians have decided not so sign the agreement, whose explicit purpose is cost cutting and renewal of personnel. The KBS Board made clear from April 25th that the Seoul Philharmonic was a model to be followed, whereas 5% of the musicians in that orchestra are fired every year. The KBSSO Foundation’s newly appointed CEO dismissed 23 musicians when he was holding office at the Kyeong-Gi Art Center. Later at the Incheon Art Center, he attempted to circumvent the statutory procedures in order to dismiss musicians more easily.
KBS has chosen a wrong path, which can only be damaging to the orchestra, the musicians, the public and the company’s image. It is still time however to redress this violent, ill-founded decision and, once for all, renounce re-auditions, which are unfair, inappropriate and counterproductive.