South Korea, home to Jeju Island – one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature in the world – plans to increase the size of its cultural market to 400 billion won and lay the foundations to reach 40 million annual foreign visitors.
The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Chae Hwi-young, presented on August 5 the main achievements of the ministry during the first half of the year and the plan to consolidate the country as an “irreplaceable cultural power” through culture, sport and tourism. The presentation took place during a meeting with President Lee Jae Myung, in Cheong Wa Dae, Seoul.
During the meeting, the minister indicated that between January and June the number of foreign tourists reached 10.71 million, which represents an increase of 21.3 percent compared to the same period of the previous year. It is believed that this growing interest of foreign visitors is due to tourism promotion campaigns in small towns and in the interior of the country.
Likewise, the portfolio highlighted the advances in the consolidation of the cultural ecosystem, among which the extension of Culture Day – a day in which discounts or free tickets are offered for cinema, shows, exhibitions and palaces -, which will be held every Wednesday instead of being limited to the last Wednesday of each month. The principle of institutional independence towards creators was also reaffirmed to guarantee the freedom of expression of artists and prevent the illegal distribution of content.
Based on the results obtained in the first half of the year, the ministry pledged to prioritize six key initiatives during the second half of the year.
The first task is to significantly expand the scale of the cultural industry. The goal is to raise the market value to 400 billion won to make the sector one of the country’s three main export engines by increasing financial and technological support, as well as talent development.
In order to continue promoting Korean culture globally, the ministry will launch “FANOMENON 2027”, a massive festival focused on K-pop, and will increase investment in performing arts and independent content to strengthen the network of protection of artistic creativity.
For its part, the measures of tourism and regional revitalization will undergo a profound restructuring. The expansion of infrastructure – such as airports, ports and accommodation – and the improvement in transport and contactless payment systems will contribute to achieving the target of 40 million annual tourists. The use of cultural, sports and tourist resources will also seek to revitalize the quality of life in the different provinces.
Another strategic axe is the development of Korean sports, conceived for the enjoyment of all citizens through innovation in the sports community and the expansion of the recreational sport base. Likewise, the launch of the “K” brand, which reflects national identity, will help consolidate the country’s image abroad.
Minister Chae said: “We will quickly promote these initiatives to ensure that culture revitalizes the regions, and thus achieve the vision of becoming an ‘irreplaceable cultural power’, with a culture that continues to expand around the world.”