Jo Incheol: "Supporting Youth Cultural Activities in the Era of High Inflation"

Representative Proposal of the "Culture and Arts Promotion Act Amendment"
"Youth to Be Included as Recipients of the Cultural Voucher"

Jo Incheol, Member of the National Assembly.

A new bill has been introduced to include young people as beneficiaries of the government-supported cultural voucher, aiming to support youth participation in cultural activities.

Jo Incheol, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (Gwangju Seo-gu Gap), announced on the 27th that he had proposed an amendment to the Culture and Arts Promotion Act, which changes the term "culturally disadvantaged groups" to "culturally vulnerable groups" and expands the scope to include young people as recipients of the cultural voucher.

Under the current Culture and Arts Promotion Act, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and all 17 metropolitan and provincial governments provide prepaid cards worth 140,000 won per person to basic livelihood recipients and those in the next-lowest income bracket, so they can enjoy travel, sports, and arts activities. However, the limited eligibility for the card has faced criticism.

The core of the amendment is to significantly broaden the scope of national cultural participation by expanding eligibility to include young people. It is also expected to provide a clear legal basis for youth support projects promoted by local governments. Currently, all 17 metropolitan and provincial governments, including Seoul City, which offers the "Youth Culture and Arts Pass," are running various support programs for young people. According to Jo, this amendment will serve as a driving force for these initiatives.

Jo stated, "Young people are going through an especially difficult time due to prolonged high inflation, job shortages, and housing instability," adding, "It is all the more important in such times for them to gain diverse experiences and vitality by enjoying a variety of cultural activities."

He continued, "Korea has grown into a cultural powerhouse that attracts global attention, and at the center of this growth have always been the active participation and vibrant exchanges of young people," emphasizing, "I hope this bill will inspire hope among youth and become a meaningful first step in revitalizing the culture and arts sector."

Meanwhile, Jo served as Gwangju City's Vice Mayor for Culture and Economy for four years starting in 2019, during which he promoted various cultural projects such as attracting the World Archery Championships and fostering the VR/AR cultural content industry.