Yoon gov't to expand support for cultural creators

By Kwak Yeon-soo

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol is expected to further cultivate the arts and culture industries and establish an environment in which the public can participate and enjoy cultural life. Yoon has already made several promises during his presidential campaign to assist local artists and cultural workers with customized financing.

He promised to create 500,000 jobs for young people in industries related to so-called “K-content.” Today cyber-savvy young artists are seeking to implement digital offerings with AI, metaverse and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). The film, TV, webtoon and music industries are incorporating the latest technologies into their intellectual property, pushing the government to come up with support measures such as revitalizing the industrial ecosystem and preventing copyright infringement.

To enhance the global competitiveness of K-content, Yoon plans to support content-related companies' and artists' activities abroad. He also pledged to expand pop culture-oriented hallyu to lifestyle-oriented sectors. For instance, he vowed to establish a systematic support program to help nurture potential candidates for the Nobel Prize in Literature.

To enhance welfare for young artists, Yoon promised to build a one-stop support system for content creators. The new administration plans to utilize public spaces for arts and culture startups. It will also ensure insurance and unemployment benefits for low-income artists and guarantee fair treatment at workplaces.

There are some signs that the new administration will safeguard cultural heritage and take back cultural sovereignty in order to promote confidence in Korean culture and history. Yoon called for better protection of historic cultural relics. According to his campaign promises, there are measures to restore Hwangnyong Temple and Mireuk Temple as well as digitalize historic heritage such as Tripitaka Koreana, the world's most comprehensive and oldest surviving version of Buddhist canon housed in the UNESCO-designated Haein Temple.

Yoon claimed that he would seek international solidarity to deal with cultural appropriation. “If anybody attempts to take away our traditional culture such as hanbok and kimchi, we will respond firmly by forming solidarity with international organizations,” Yoon said.

He also laid out his vision for Korea where every citizen can equally enjoy cultural events. His campaign pledges included providing financial support to increase opportunities for low-income households and the underprivileged to enjoy cultural events, and facilitating a virtual metaverse-like experience that can be enjoyed by everyone regardless of age, income or any other status. He also promised a tax deduction on cultural expenses.

Yoon has spoken warmly in support of the arts during his presidential race. His wife, would-be first lady Kim Keon-hee, is the president and CEO of Covana Contents, an art exhibition company.