Korea's Culture Ministry details plans to expand K-culture to the world

Park Bo-gyoon, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, speaks during the press briefing on Thursday in central Seoul. [MINISTRY OF CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM]

K-culture is going to be the “game changer that changes the export landscape of the country this year,” the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said in its plan for the year, as reported to President Yoon Suk Yeol on Thursday.

Culture Minister Park Bo-gyoon said in a press briefing after his meeting with the president on Thursday that “BTS member Jungkook’s performance of 'Dreamers' at the opening ceremony of the Qatar World Cup last November is a representative scene that confirmed the global status of K-culture.”

Park added that Korea is already being perceived by the world as a culturally advanced country and that the Culture Ministry’s role this year is to actively support various areas of Korean culture so that K-culture can be the new driving force of Korea’s economy.

The ministry rolled out six main projects to be carried out this year, with a 6.7076-trillion-won ($5.314 billion) budget. One is to help K-content shine more overseas while nurturing more talents in the field. Another focus will be in tourism, with a plan to hold a K-Tourism Road Show in 15 different countries to promote different tour programs in Korea.

As for a more detailed planning of the utilization of the Blue House, the ministry said the advisory committee has not yet come up with a concrete plan, though it expects to hear from the committee any time soon.

“We’ll have to wait until the committee comes up with a detailed plan on how to use the Blue House as a multi-cultural complex,” said Chun Byong-keuk, the first vice culture minister. “But we plan to designate the area around the Blue House as a 'cultural cluster' and promote the area like the first arrondissement of Paris which houses the Louvre, the Tuileries and the Palais Royal."

“We have the Blue House, Gyeongbok Palace, many galleries and museums and Gwanghwamun Plaza,” said Chun. “The public opening of the Blue House has given us a great opportunity to do a lot in tourism.”

Other plans include supporting local areas that lack cultural opportunities and supporting artists with disabilities. The ministry said it also plans to open a barrier-free performing art hall for the disabled by June at which disabled artists can perform and hold art exhibitions.

BY YIM SEUNG-HYE [yim.seunghye@joongang.co.kr]