Now In Korea
[Q&A] Minister Choi Hwi-young Expects Active Cultural Exchanges with China, Pledges Broad Support for K-Culture
Creatrip Team
4 months ago
In a 100-day interview, Culture Minister Choi Hwi-young outlined plans to boost Korea’s cultural industries and deepen exchanges with China after a successful Korea-China summit at APEC. He expects more active cultural cooperation—especially youth exchanges and more concert opportunities—and highlighted the new Pop Culture Exchange Committee (co-chaired with JYP’s Park Jin-young) as a bridge where private initiatives act independently while the government provides necessary support. To revive the struggling film sector, the ministry will raise production support from about 82.9 billion won to 148.9 billion won next year and double mid-budget and fund support. On heritage protection, Choi vowed legal administrative measures to oppose high-rise development near Jongmyo (a royal ancestral shrine) and urged Seoul to seek expert heritage impact assessments. He also discussed easing ticket scalping through consolidated legal measures and administrative fines, plans to develop 2–3 regional tourism zones to reach 30–40 million annual foreign visitors, building a 50,000-seat dome for large K-pop concerts, and possible admission fees for the National Museum to improve stewardship of cultural assets. The Pop Culture Exchange Committee will organize a global festival (“Fanomenon”) from 2027 and pursue artist-dedicated venues in seven cities to support K-pop touring and K-culture towns.
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