Government to Support Movie and Professional Sports Discount Vouchers in the Second Half of the Year

Second Supplementary Budget Confirmed at 291.8 Billion Won
102.3 Billion Won Allocated for Job Creation in Culture, Sports, and Tourism
39.5 Billion Won Invested in Consumer Discount Voucher Program

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hwang Hee is attending the full meeting of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee held at the National Assembly on the 21st, responding to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

On the 25th, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced that the second supplementary budget for this year has been finalized at 291.8 billion KRW.

More than one-third, amounting to 102.3 billion KRW, will be used for job creation projects in the culture, sports, and tourism sectors. This includes 27.2 billion KRW for creative preparation funds for low-income artists, 11.5 billion KRW for personnel support in performing arts (theater, musicals, music, gugak, dance), 3 billion KRW for the Korea Performing Arts Festival (supporting creation and hosting), 3.9 billion KRW for Culture Day (supporting programs like Cheongchun Mike), 3 billion KRW to revitalize small-scale popular music performances (such as indie concerts), 15.1 billion KRW to strengthen competitiveness in the travel industry (including hiring digital specialists), 25.2 billion KRW for quarantine and capacity improvements at tourist sites, and 13.4 billion KRW for employment support at private indoor sports facilities (trainers, etc.). A Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Planning and Coordination Office official explained, “It is expected to create 27,740 jobs.”

For consumption discount voucher projects aimed at revitalizing domestic demand in the second half of the year, 39.5 billion KRW will be invested. This includes 10 billion KRW to promote national movie viewing (6,000 KRW discount coupons per person), 12.4 billion KRW to encourage use of private sports facilities (indoor sports facilities), 3 billion KRW to support tickets for professional sports (baseball, soccer, basketball, volleyball, etc.), and 14.1 billion KRW for integrated cultural vouchers (Cultural Nuri Cards for low-income groups). It is expected that 1.67 million, 400,000, 400,000, and 200,000 people will benefit respectively. The Planning and Coordination Office official stated, “We plan to implement these measures step-by-step, fully considering vaccination rates and quarantine conditions.”

Additionally, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism secured an additional 150 billion KRW in deposits from the Public Fund Management Fund to expand the tourism fund resources. A Planning and Coordination Office official said, “Since we have alleviated the sharp decline in fund income caused by the decrease in departure fees, we plan to focus on supporting loans and employment for tourism businesses as well as restoring the tourism ecosystem based on quarantine safety.”