[Stage Voices]Culture Defines Quality of Life

Culture as a Driver of Growth and Stability
Linked to Mental Health Indicators
"An Era of a 300 Trillion Won K-Culture Market"
Aspirations of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nominee

"We will usher in an era where the K-culture market reaches 300 trillion won."

This was the first emphasis made by Choi Hwi-young, the nominee for Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, as he outlined six key tasks during his opening remarks at the National Assembly confirmation hearing on the 29th. The Lee Jaemyung administration has pledged to make South Korea one of the world's top five cultural powerhouses. The aim is to strengthen the competitiveness of the cultural industry and establish it as a new growth engine for the Korean economy. The global K-pop phenomenon led by BTS, Han Kang's Nobel Prize in Literature, the film "Parasite," the drama "Squid Game," the musical "Maybe Happy Ending," and the recent animation "K-pop Demon Hunters" have already demonstrated significant potential.

An ambitious goal was also set: to expand the K-culture market to 300 trillion won by 2030. Considering the market size stood at 154.1785 trillion won as of 2023, this means the market must double, which is no easy task.

Choi Hwiyoung, nominee for Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is delivering an opening statement at the confirmation hearing held by the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee on the 29th. 2025.7.29 Photo by Kim Hyunmin

It is noteworthy that the Lee Jaemyung administration does not view culture solely as a driver of economic growth.

Lee Giheon, a member of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee from the Democratic Party, stated at a seminar held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 25th that the reason the Lee Jaemyung administration emphasizes becoming a cultural powerhouse is because it believes culture is a driving force for both growth and stability. This means that culture can foster both economic growth and social stability.

Kim Jaejoon, a professor at Kookmin University's Department of International Trade and the president of the Korean Association of Cultural Finance, stressed at the seminar that increased participation in arts-related activities leads to dramatic improvements in the mental health indicators of community members. For example, New York operates a support program that provides 1,000 dollars (about 1.39 million won) per month to 2,400 artists. According to Professor Kim, after the implementation of this program, the amount of time New Yorkers spent on arts-related work increased by 19%, while severe anxiety and depression decreased by 29%. This suggests that artistic activities have the potential to reduce serious crimes in society. Since 2020, Yongsan-gu has installed speakers in the underground walkway connecting Haebangchon and Gyeongridan-gil, playing classical music 24 hours a day. Yongsan-gu stated that this was done to prevent crime and create a safer walking environment.

The seminar was organized to discuss the introduction of basic income for young artists. According to the "2024 Status of Artists" report, jointly surveyed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute and released in March, the average annual income earned by artists from creative activities in 2023 was only 10.55 million won. Among artists, 70.4% earned less than 10 million won annually, and 31% reported having no income at all. Only 3.3% of artists had an annual income exceeding 60 million won.

Given the strong resistance to the introduction of basic income in general, the idea of basic income for artists seems out of reach for now. Only after the immense value that culture and the arts bring to our community is proven over the long term will the possibility of introducing such a system begin to emerge. This process can also be seen as evidence supporting Choi Hwi-young's statement at the confirmation hearing regarding culture: "I believe culture is the most fundamental element that defines quality of life."