National Assembly Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee Current Issues Inquiry, Criticism
'Urgent Need for Support Measures Such as Discount Coupons'
Kim Seung-su, a member of the People Power Party representing Daegu Buk-gu Eul, urged the establishment of measures to revitalize the film industry, which has been shrinking due to the impact of COVID-19 and the rapid growth of OTT platforms, as well as support plans for the recovery of the tourism industry following China's recent approval of group tours, during a current issues inquiry at the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee.
At the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee meeting held on the 25th, Rep. Kim addressed Minister Park Bo-gyun of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Chairman Park Ki-yong of the Korean Film Council, stating, “The film industry expected audiences to return to theaters and many hit films to be released after the lifting of COVID-19 social distancing measures, but except for a few such as ‘The Outlaws 3,’ most films have suffered box office failures. The summer vacation and holiday season specials were also minimal, and many films that could not be released due to COVID-19 are still delayed, creating a crisis situation.” He emphasized, “We must quickly create an opportunity for audiences to return to theaters at pre-COVID-19 levels.”
To this end, Rep. Kim strongly urged, “Please implement groundbreaking support measures that can promote movie viewing, screening, and reinvestment, such as discount coupons and release subsidies that were provided during the COVID-19 period, during the upcoming Chuseok holiday and year-end holiday seasons.”
In response, Chairman Park Ki-yong of the Korean Film Council said, “The Korean film industry is facing a crisis, and since May, the Film Council has formed a Korean Film Rebound Council with the industry to prepare countermeasures, but due to difficulties in securing the budget, we have been unable to proceed.” He added, “If assistance in securing the budget is provided, we will strive to realize measures to overcome the crisis in Korean cinema,” requesting support, noting that about 50 billion KRW in policy funds are needed to resolve the current difficulties in the film industry.
Minister Park Bo-gyun of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said, “The difficulties faced by movie theaters are due to multiple factors, including COVID-19 and the emergence of OTT platforms, but there have been cases like ‘The Outlaws’ where over 10 million viewers attended.” He added, “We will actively provide budget support to repay the dedication of filmmakers.”
Regarding the Chinese government’s recent approval of group tours to Korea on the 10th, Rep. Kim of the People Power Party said, “Domestic tourism industry workers expect a large influx of Chinese tourists due to the approval of group tours, with high hopes for sales recovery, but there are also many concerns.” He pointed out, “If travel agencies focus on low-cost Chinese group tours, high-quality, high-profit tourism may be pushed out, and if China bans group tours again, the industry could be severely shaken.”
Rep. Kim further emphasized to Minister Park, “During the period when Chinese group tours were banned, sufficient measures such as securing personnel dedicated to Chinese tourists who left the tourism industry, guide training, and development of high-quality tourism products must be promptly prepared for the resumption of Chinese group tours.”
The number of Chinese tourists visiting Korea reached 6.02 million in 2019 before COVID-19 but dropped by 96% to 220,000 last year, causing significant damage. However, after the announcement of the resumption of Chinese group tours on the 10th, within a week, 267 cruise ships from China applied to dock in Jeju Island, with an estimated 800,000 tourists, signaling the tourism industry’s start toward recovery to pre-COVID-19 levels.
Rep. Kim Seung-su of the People Power Party has been actively involved in the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee and the Budget and Accounts Committee, continuously advocating for the film and travel industries, which suffered the most during the COVID-19 period. For the film industry, he has led initiatives such as issuing discount coupons and providing release subsidies, and for the travel industry, he has promoted various support measures including loss compensation corresponding to businesses subject to gathering bans and restrictions, and deployment of quarantine personnel at tourist sites for tourism industry workers on leave or unemployed.
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