Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Science and ICT 'Traditional Culture Innovation Growth' R&D
Hanbok and Hanji Research, Technology-Based Fields This Year to Start from Next Year...
The government will invest 48 billion won over five years to promote research and development for the innovative growth of traditional culture.
On the 26th, Kim Hyun-hwan, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Yong Hong-taek, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, signed a memorandum of understanding at the Traditional Culture Research Institute Onjieum in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to establish a joint promotion system for innovative growth in traditional culture. The research and development for innovative growth in traditional culture is a project jointly planned by the two ministries since last year. The Ministry of Science and ICT will develop "core traditional culture source technologies" that identify the fundamental principles in traditional materials and foundational technology fields, while the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will develop "traditional culture industrialization technologies" that enable traditional culture artisans and companies to commercialize and productize these technologies.
The two ministries will also jointly promote "field problem-solving research and development, commercialization, and design support." A Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism official expressed expectations that "a support system linking source technology, industrialization technology, and commercialization will be established, which can induce both popularization and premiumization of traditional culture." In the first year of collaboration, 2.2 billion won (1.2 billion won from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and 1 billion won from the Ministry of Science and ICT) will be spent to research key focus areas such as Hanbok and Hanji. From next year, the research fields will be expanded to technology-based areas including wood, lacquer, ceramics, and metal.
Separately, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will invest 25.9 billion won this year in promoting the traditional culture industry, which is 6.2 billion won more than last year. The main projects include the introduction of innovation vouchers, improvement of infrastructure for traditional culture companies, support for metaverse content production, strengthening support for youth startups, expansion of traditional culture education and promotion for future generations, and introduction of traditional culture to foreigners. The ministry plans to continuously communicate with the field to enhance effectiveness. Vice Minister Kim emphasized, "As the Korean Wave expands beyond popular culture, the traditional culture industry is facing a strategic growth opportunity," and stressed, "We must shift policy direction from protecting traditional culture to fostering and supporting the industry."
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