Government Supports Admission Fees for Temple Cultural Heritage "Enhancing Cultural Enjoyment Rights"

Support Amount Corresponding to Reduced Income When Discounted or Free Pricing Applied

Temples owning nationally designated cultural properties will receive government support equivalent to the reduced admission fees if they discount or eliminate the cultural heritage admission fees. According to the booklet "Changes Starting from 2023" published by the government on the 5th, the Cultural Heritage Administration will implement the amendment to the "Cultural Heritage Protection Act" with this content starting May 4th.

The current Cultural Heritage Protection Act allows owners of nationally designated cultural properties to charge admission fees from visitors when opening the cultural heritage sites. The amended law further emphasizes the state's role in managing cultural heritage and enhancing cultural enjoyment rights. Private owners or management organizations of nationally designated cultural properties who discount or set admission fees to free will be supported with an amount equivalent to the lost revenue. The Cultural Heritage Administration has secured a budget of approximately 42.1 billion won for smooth implementation. Of this, 41.9 billion won will be invested in covering the reduced cultural heritage admission fees, and 200 million won will be used for research projects studying stable systems, operational procedures, and socioeconomic costs.

Currently, about fifty temples charge cultural heritage admission fees, ranging from 1,000 won to 6,000 won per person. The Cultural Heritage Administration expects that "with government support for discounts, the cultural enjoyment rights of the public who view and enjoy cultural heritage will be enhanced."