Minister Park Bo-gyun: "I Will Prioritize the Budget for Disabled Culture"

"Improving Art, Sports, and Tourism Environments for People with Disabilities Also Enhances Environments for Non-Disabled"
Standard Performance Venue for Disabled Artists Established at Salvation Army Building Art Hall in Chungjeongno

"Improving the environment for arts, sports, and tourism for people with disabilities also enhances the environment for those without disabilities." Park Bo-gyun, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, promised to create an 'inclusive' environment where people with and without disabilities can participate together. Starting with a standard performance hall for disabled artists, various policies will be introduced.

On the 5th, Minister Park met with disabled artists at the Korea Disabled Culture and Arts Center in Daehangno, Seoul, and declared, "We will prioritize the budget for disabled arts." He said, "We will establish a dedicated task force (TF) connecting the departments responsible for arts, sports, and tourism for people with disabilities within the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to systematically prepare related policies."

The Ministry is already preparing a standard performance hall for disabled artists on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the Salvation Army Building Art Hall in Chungjeongno, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. This space supports the creative and performance activities of disabled artists. A standard exhibition hall to support the exhibition activities of disabled artists is also planned as a project for next year. The Ministry explained, "The term 'exclusive' for disabled artists could be perceived as a space only for people with disabilities, so we introduced the concept of 'standard.'"

Minister Park recently mentioned Jung Eun-hye, a developmental disabled person who is active as both an actor and painter, saying, "She left a deep impression on the public through films and news." He added, "Seeing how she breaks down barriers between people with and without disabilities and interacts together, I am convinced that our culture and arts can blossom much more diversely." He continued, "As President Yoon Seok-yeol emphasized, all citizens should enjoy and share culture fairly and without discrimination," and said, "The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will take the lead and aggressively implement policies."

The meeting was attended by Kim Hyung-hee, Chairman of the Korea Disabled Culture and Arts Center; Bae Eun-joo, Representative of the Korea Federation of Disabled Culture and Arts Organizations; Bang Gwi-hee, President of the Korea Disabled Artists Association; Hong Seo-yoon, Representative of the Korea Disabled Tourism Association; Kim Ji-soo, Director of the theater company Ae-in; and ballet dancer Go Ara. Kim Ye-ji, a member of the People Power Party and former visually impaired pianist, also participated.

They requested Minister Park to ▲expand creative spaces and increase rental support for disabled artists ▲support education and job opportunities for disabled artists ▲improve accessibility to cultural and artistic facilities for people with disabilities ▲increase professional staff at support institutions for people with disabilities ▲introduce a registration system for disabled artists ▲expand budgets for people with disabilities ▲ensure sustainability of disabled artists' activities. Minister Park responded, "Along with expanding infrastructure, let's discover stars who showcase the outstanding talents of disabled artists."