Korea’s record culture budget for 2027, totaling 9.6 trillion won ($6.9 billion), aims to enhance cultural access for youth and support for artists. The budget sees a 22.6% increase from the previous year, with specific allocations for culture and arts rising 44.6% to 3.9 trillion won.
Key features of this budget include:
-
Expanded Youth Culture Pass: Eligibility will now include ages 19 to 34, increasing from 280,000 to 9.2 million young people eligible for annual vouchers totaling 792.5 billion won.
-
Support for Artists: Funding for certified artists’ livelihoods increases from 1.5 billion won to 31.1 billion won.
-
Funding for Content and Tourism: The content sector will receive a 9.5% increase, reaching 1.6 trillion won, while tourism will be allocated 1.5 trillion won.
-
Regional Tourism Development: Investment of 93.5 billion won will focus on boosting tourism around regional airports in cities like Busan and Daegu.
Overall, this initiative reflects a commitment to fostering a robust cultural landscape in Korea, reinforcing its global cultural status.