[26.01.20] Korea to Expand Culture Day to Every Wednesday from April

Culture Ministry to Expand ‘Culture Day’ to Every Wednesday Starting April

📍Subscription-based movie pass also under review to revive film industry

South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism plans to expand “Culture Day,” currently held on the last Wednesday of each month, to every Wednesday starting in April. Alongside this initiative, the ministry is also reviewing the introduction of a subscription-based movie pass to help revive the struggling film industry.

---

🔹 From once a month to every Wednesday
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is pursuing a policy shift to expand “Culture Day” from once a month to every Wednesday.

The plan was presented during a first-round policy briefing held on the 13th at the Content Korea Lab (CKL) in Seoul, where the Regional Culture Promotion Agency formally reported the expansion proposal.

🔹 Free and discounted access at 2,000 cultural facilities
“Culture Day” currently provides free admission, discounted fees, extended hours, and region-specific programs at approximately 2,000 cultural facilities nationwide.

The agency concluded that holding the event only once a month is insufficient to embed cultural participation into daily life.

🔹 “Once a month is not enough for everyday culture”
Agency head Jeong Gwang-yeol stated that 58 percent of last year’s cultural event attendance occurred through Culture Day, benefiting about 15 million citizens aged 15 and older.

An economic impact analysis of the proposed expansion is currently underway, with results expected in February.

🔹 Legal revisions underway for April launch
The ministry plans to revise the Enforcement Decree of the Framework Act on Culture in February and complete preparations within the first quarter to enable implementation in April.

Local governments will be encouraged to expand cultural programs, offer discounts, and extend operating hours at public cultural facilities.

🔹 Participation rate triples over a decade
Since its launch in 2014, public participation in Culture Day has risen from 28.4 percent to 84.7 percent in 2024, strengthening calls for expansion.

🔹 Subscription-based movie pass under review
Meanwhile, the Korean Film Council is reviewing a monthly subscription-based movie pass to boost theater attendance.

Chairman Han Sang-jun cited overseas examples, including France’s Pathé and the U.S. theater chain AMC, and said discussions are underway to reflect the plan in next year’s budget.

One-line summary :  The culture ministry plans to expand Culture Day to every Wednesday starting in April while reviewing a subscription-based movie pass to revive the film industry.