May 2012
Korean ministry to examine entertainment agencies
In light of the sexual assault scandals revolving around trainees in the entertainment business, South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism had announced that it will be establishing a new act to prevent exploitation of trainees. more >
Korea, China, Japan to push cultural exchange
The Culture Ministers of Korea, China and Japan agreed to expand cultural cooperation and promote exchanges between the three countries at a trilateral meeting held in Shanghai on Saturday, officials said. more >
April 2012
Korea to turn hallyu into industry
Culture Ministry plans to create fair business environment for artists, large concert hall and support content developers
more >
March 2012
South Korea opens first cultural center in Mexico
South Korea opened its first Korean Cultural Center in Mexico Tuesday, hoping it will serve as a bridge between the two different cultures. more >
February 2012
Government to open K-arts, ballet and musical academies
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will form a 12 billion-won ($10.7 million) fund to support original South Korean musicals and establish a K-Arts Academy to help create new sources of cultural products. more >
January 2012
Traditional culture promoted for new wave of hallyu
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will push Korean traditional culture as the new driving force for “hallyu,”or Korean Wave. more >
December 2011
S. Korea bolsters efforts to boost wave of culture
Amid rising global interest in South Korean pop culture, known as the Korean Wave or hallyu, the South Korean government will step up its efforts to keep this wave rolling, the culture ministry said Thursday. more >
November 2011
Legislation needed for more active commercialization of traditional culture
Korean traditional heritage has served as a useful source for adding diversity to “hallyu” or the Korean wave. more >
UNESCO General Conference Adopts Seoul Agenda
The Seoul Agenda: Goals for the Development of Arts Education was unanimously adopted by UNESCO Member States at the 36th Session of the General Conference, held at UNESCO headquarters on November 4, 2011, Friday evening (in Paris local time). more >
57,000 artists to be insured against accidents
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said about 57,000 South Korean performing artists will benefit from industrial accident insurance, just as employees in other industries do. more >
September 2011
‘Culture should be fun’: new Minister Choe
Choe Kwang-sik, who took office as new culture minister on Tuesday, said the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sports’ policies should be based on the idea that people should play and have fun. more >
August 2011
Bringing Contemporary Korean Arts to the World!
Arts Council Korea releases Contemporary Korean Arts Series as an introduction to contemporary Korean arts. more >
July 2011
A New Trend in Culture! Crowd Funding
What if Michelangelo never had had a patron like Medici, and Rembrandt didn't have a sponsor like Uylenburg [ui-len-burg]. As such, a new culture of sponsorship is rising in Korea. Let's take a look at crowd funding in the arts and culture world. more >
Korea's Representative Brand of the Global Culture is None Other Than Paik Nam June
The IT Times met with Doh Myung-guk, President of the Korean Society of Culture Industry, who is working day and night to shed new light on Korean cultural art by modernly imagining the art works of the late Paik Nam June - the world famous all-Korean video artist of original excellence, and had a chance to hear about the current activities of the Korean Society of Culture Industry. more >
June 2011
Korea to nurture diversity in K-pop
The South Korean government said it will nurture diversity in Korean pop, which is heavily idol-group centered, as part of its strategy to boost the global competitiveness of Korean pop culture. more >
Dutoit in Pyongyang to discuss launch of inter-Korean orchestra
In 1999, Daniel Barenboim made waves by establishing an orchestra comprised of youths from Israel and Palestine. Maestro Charles Dutoit is pursuing a similar peace-making project for the divided Koreas and is currently negotiating the launch of an inter-Korean orchestra with North Korean officials, said organizers. more >
May 2011
2011 Arts Education Week Opens its Doors on Monday
To assure a better future for art education, a special event was launched on Monday under the name of "Arts Education Week 2011." more >
Festivals and culture in Korea
Out of more than a thousand festivals celebrated in Korea, 44 ‘Culture & Tour Festivals’ have been selected for 2011 by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism based on the festivals’ popularity, organization/management, uniqueness and development potential. more >
April 2011
Korean cultural centers need to identify local demand: minister
Korean Culture and Information Service’s Korean culture centers promoting Korean studies, culture and arts around the world need to know exactly what kind of information and content local visitors want, Culture Minister Choung Byoung-gug said in a meeting with Korean cultural center heads in Sydney, Australia. more >
March 2011
Asian Arts Theatre 2011 Project Development Initiative
The Project Development Initiative has been hosted by The Office for Hub City of Asian Culture in Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to develop programming for Asian Arts Theatre and to build collaborative relationship with wide range of national and international artists.
more >
February 2011
Writers Association of Korea again rejects conditional government subsidies
The Writers’ Association of Korea (WAK) voted at a general meeting Saturday afternoon not to accept support from the government-affiliated Arts Council Korea (ARKO) for a second straight year in response to its demands for a letter of confirmation that applications for government subsidies will not participate in or lead demonstrations. more >
Korea urged to promote culture more subtly
Non-Korean and Korean culture experts, including directors of foreign cultural centers in Seoul, professors and foreign correspondents, advised the Korean government to promote its culture in a more smart and subtle way. more >
December 2010
More culture for low-income class
State funding for low-income families’ access to cultural programs will be significantly raised, and those who donate personally owned cultural properties to national museums will receive a tax deduction, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said. more >
September 2010
Culture budget for 2011 hits record high
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced Thursday its plans to use some 3.37 trillion won next year for community outreach programs and to develop cultural content. more >
August 2010
Lee vows support for low-income people seeking cultural events
President Lee Myung-bak said Monday his government will step up efforts to help the working class and other low-income people enjoy more cultural activities such as movies, exhibitions and performances in line with his "fair society" campaign. more >
July 2010
Government to boost arts education in schools
The government plans to significantly bolster arts education in primary and secondary schools over the next few years, designating more arts-centered schools and increasing related teachers and classes. more >
May 2010
The Second World Conference on Arts Education: “Arts for Society, Education for Creativity”
UNESCO and the Republic of Korea would like to invite you to participate in the Second World Conference on Arts Education in Seoul from the 25th to the 28th of May 2010. more >
February 2010
G-20 Tourism Ministers to meet in Seoul
Tourism ministers from 20 major countries will gather in Korea to discuss how to boost the industry later this year. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced last week that Korea is going to host the second T-20 meeting in November. more >
Government to set up online 'App Store'
The massive success of Apple's online content `App Store has technology companies around the world racing to produce similar products. The latest to jump on the bandwagon is the Korean government.
more >
Minister Yu warns against politicizing cultural policies
Yu In-chon, the longest-serving minister of culture, sports and tourism since 1990, warned against politicizing cultural issues Thursday. more >
Despite green mantra, public agencies use more electricity
Despite their repeated mantra to save energy, government organizations including the Ministry of Culture, turned out to have consumed more electricity in the latter half of last year compared to the same period in 2008, a civic group announced yesterday. more >
MCST is crossing a line with management of ARKO leadership
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s disregard for the law regarding Arts Council Korea (ARKO) Chairman Kim Jung-heun is crossing a line. The situation has reached the point where we believe a resolution for the situation will be impossible unless Minister of Culture Yu In-chon, who pushed Kim’s illegal dismissal, steps down. more >
[Photo News] World Natural Heritage center on Jeju Island
Jeju-do Provincial Government announced that it will build a World Natural Heritage Center in Jocheon-eup, Jeju island. more >
Is Media Center taking conservative tone?
Members of Mediact International Solidarity protest Tuesday in front of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for depriving Mediact of its contract to run Media Center, a state-subsidized media education facility, and hiring a conservative organization as new operator. more >
January 2010
Traditional Korean music DVDs for overseas audiences
Institutions or organizations overseas dedicated to Korean studies can order a free DVD-set on Korean traditional music from the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage. more >
Artists find an unlikely home
A seafood shopping arcade, once near deserted, has been reborn as an oasis for whimsical crafts
But this isn’t some guerrilla Bohemian operation - it’s a government program, made possible thanks to the support of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Small and Medium Business Administration, part of a national campaign to preserve and revitalize Korea’s traditional markets.
more >
December 2009
S Korea aims to become world's top 10 culture nations
South Korean Ministry of Culture on Thursday said it will work towards enhancing its tourism industry next year under the "Visit Korea 2010-2012" campaign, vowing to become the world's top 10 culturally developed nations. more >
Culture Ministry to tighten copyright protection on cultural contents
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that it will tighten the copyright protection in using illegal downloaded files and promote the print-based media industry through paid services. more >
Calling on Culture Minister Yoo to step down for instigating illegal firings
In a suit raised against the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism by former Arts Council Korea (ARKO) Chief Executive Officer and Chairman Kim Jung-heun seeking the cancellation of his termination, the Seoul Administrative Court ruled that the sacking was illegal. more >
Seoul City holds UCC contest: Streaming Seoul 2009
Seoul City is holding a UCC (User Created Content) contest with the theme of the ‘Story of Seoul on Earth' and an event of ‘Making a map of Seoul with people around the world' from Nov. 16 to Dec. 31, as part of its project to increase the world's awareness of Seoul. more >
UNESCO to Hold Seoul Conference
The 2nd UNESCO World Conference on Arts Education, the largest global event in the field, will take place in Seoul in May of next year with some 2,000 participants coming from here and abroad. more >
Breathing new life into landmarks
Over time, buildings can become renowned attractions that serve as sources of national pride or major eyesores that rub people the wrong way. Now, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is working on major preservation and renovation efforts tied to two highly important modern structures. more >
October 2009
Actor Bae Yong-joon publishes book about Korea's beauty
Enjoy the beauty of the Korean landscape through the photographic pilgrimage of Bae Yong-joon, a major Hallyu star. more >
September 2009
Meet 100 celebrities at Korea 100 Sparkles Online Festival
The Korea Tourism Organization has launched the second phase of its global tourism promotion campaign, which promotes Visit Korea 2010-2012 and enhances Korea's image as a tourist destination. On this microsite, 100 of Korea's celebrities talk about their favorite things about Korea. more >
Former Culture Minister dies at 77
Kim Sung-jin, who served as minister of culture and communication between 1975 and 1980 under former President Park Chung-hee, died of an illness, Thursday. He was 77. more >
July 2009
Past and present come together at Korean Style Expo
It's Korean style all the way for the latest exhibition at COEX (Convention for Exhibition Center) in Samseong-dong Seoul from July 23 to 25. A total of 133 companies will display Korean style products classified into six categories. more >
Crazy copyright law set to cause chaos in S.Korea
Netizens of South Korea could find themselves at the mercy of a copyright infringement firestorm today, as a tough new copyright law takes effect. A prominent social networking site is sending warnings to its customers about their behavior, noting that far reaching penalties include 6 month Internet disconnections. more >
June 2009
Romanization of Korean officially changed
Minister of Culture and Tourism Park Jie Won announced that the government had changed its official system of Romanization for the Korean language. The new system, developed by the MCT's National Academy of the Korean Language, is in largely a system transcription as opposed to transliteration, and does not use the diacritical marks used in the system in place since 1984. more >
New Korea Center to open Japanese eyes to culture, tourism
The Tokyo Korea Center, established to promote Korea-related culture and tourism services, has had its grand opening in Shinjuku. more >
Korea to create 3,000 culture and tourism service jobs
The Korean government said Tuesday it will create some 3,000 new social service sector jobs in the fields of culture, art and tourism this year as part of efforts to fight rising unemployment amid an ongoing economic downturn, according to Yonhap News. more >
Curtain opens once more in landmark Myeongdong Theater
Most tourist books on Korea describe the neighborhood Myeongdong in central Seoul as one of the capital city's main shopping districts and one of the most commercialized areas. Now after decades, the district is trying to restore its cultural reputation by renovating and reopening theaters in the area. more >
ASEAN-Korea traditional orchestra brings new harmony to Asia
The ASEAN-Korea Traditional Orchestra, made up of 52 types of 79 traditional instruments from Korea and ten Southeast Asian countries opened people's eyes to new possibilities of musical collaboration amongst neighboring nations. more >
May 2009
President of KUNA announces resignation due to a “political audit”
University president decides to reduce the pressure on KNUA, while the culture sector criticizes the trend of using audits as means to evict progressive personnel. more >
Old palace banquet performance recreated in Seoul
One of the reasons why it is better to live in modern times is because people can enjoy things that were once reserved only for royal families. The National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts presents “Hoeryeyeon,” the biggest royal banquet of Korea's past from May 21 to 24. more >
April 2009
Seoul int'l conference underlines power of creativity, imagination
2009 marks the third anniversary of Seoul Creative City Governance, the meeting analyzed the outcomes and reflections on Seoul Creative City Governance over the last three years, to identify any challenges ahead and find how to meet them. more >
Hi Seoul Festival kicks off May 2
The Hi Seoul Festival - Spring 2009 will take place May 2 through May 10. Hot Pink Parade kicks off the festivities on May 2. The spring festival will be held under the slogan "Share, Hope" and the color hot pink has been selected to represent the festival with its image of warm energy of life. more >
Mungyeong to host festival of traditional tea bowls
Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province, is hosting the 11th Traditional Tea Bowl Festival May 1-10, offering visitors the chance to appreciate the beauty and culture of traditional tea and tea bowls. more >
Koreans spending more time on culture activities
According to a joint survey by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Culture & Tourism Institute (KCTI), 30 percent of Koreans went to art exhibitions in 2008, a sharp gain from 9 percent in 2007. They surveyed 3,000 Koreans over 10 years of age. more >
March 2009
Art performances to mark 8th anniversary of Incheon airport
To mark the eighth anniversary of its opening, Korea's international gateway Incheon International Airport is to reward weary travelers artistically. more >
Artists to inspire children in lectures
Renowned figures of the Korean art world will become honorary professors for young students. Artists including conductor Chung Myung-whun, soprano Sumi Jo and ballerina Kang Sue-jin hope to inspire elementary, middle and high school students through a program organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. more >
February 2009
Saving the arts
Art critic Oh Kwang-su was inaugurated yesterday as the third chairman of the Arts Council Korea. A myriad of arts-related problems await the new head. more >
Ex-CEO is head of national museum
Bae Soon-hoon, the 67-year-old ex-chairman of Daewoo Electronics and former information minister, has been named the new director of the National Museum of Contemporary Art. He is the first chief of the state-run museum with no background in art. The Ministry of Culture announced its unprecedented decision on Saturday.
more >
Culture Ministry proposes government policy program for KBS
Citizen policy suggestions would be presented in a variety show format, but the ministry would have a say in what is put on the air. The lawyer of main opposition Democratic Party Choi Moon-soon commented, “This is both an act that severely infringes upon a broadcasting company’s rights to programming, which is a decision that should be made autonomously, and a measure that effectively views KBS as a government broadcasting station.” more >
Online photo archive of Asian cultures launched
The UNESCO Asia Pacific Center of Education for International Understanding (APCEIU), Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Office for Hub City of Asian Culture have worked together to launch the Photo Archive of Asian Cultures. more >
Culture to unite people for overcoming economic slump
Yu In-chon, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism in a published address notes that "There may seem to be no relation between culture and the economic crisis, but the fundamental way to cope with it comes from culture because it heals people's painful hearts. During these economically difficult times, our lives would be much harsher without culture and art". more >
December 2008
Cultural support programs for the needy to increase
Kwak Young-jin, director of the planning and coordination office at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, speaks during a briefing for the ministry’s 2009 policy report to President Lee Myung-bak Saturday. more >
Ministers Vow More Cultural Exchanges
Culture ministers of Korea, China and Japan agreed Thursday to boost cultural exchanges through various channels. more >
Civic group wants culture minister to apologize and recall controversial books
The Korea Liberation Association and other related organizations called on the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism to apologize for his actions and recall all the books distributed to middle and high schools across the country. The minister was hit by a wave of opposition when the books were criticized for ignoring the legitimacy of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, which is recognized by the Korean Constitution. more >
Arts needed more than ever
We hear dreadful news these days of closing operations and layoffs. The vicious circle of a worldwide depression and falling consumption lead to a decrease in production. The field of culture and the arts is no exception. more >
Zigzag policies stand in way of multicultural society
Korea is on a long but unavoidable journey to becoming a multicultural society. To cope with a soaring influx of non-Koreans, the government has unveiled a series of unprecedented policies to support them. Civic groups have also run a variety of campaigns to lead them into the nation's mainstream. more >
Asia-Pacific Regional Centre (APRCCN) of the Culturelink Network issues newsletter
Combined with the Asia-Pacific Regional Centre (APRCCN) website, the monthly e-newsletter is designed to help keep readers informed on news, events, research, and other developments in the field of cultural policy both within and beyond the Asia-Pacific region. more >
Arts Council chief dismissed
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism dismissed Kim Jeong-heon as chairman of Arts Council Korea after he violated rules concerning the council's promotional funds. more >
November 2008
South Korean gov invests in content
The South Korean government is to deliver its third stimulus package to local cultural industries, with the announcement that it will invest 410 billion won ($274 million) in what it calls ``killer content'' with international potential by 2013. more >
Nat’l Museum of Contemporary Art manager let go
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Friday that they were terminating the contract of the head of the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Kim Yoon-su, due to violations of contract employment regulations. more >
Daegu gears up to lure visitors ahead of 2011
Daegu is busy grooming itself now 2011 has been designated “Visit Daegu Korea Year” by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
more >
Minister plans long-term blueprint to promote culture
Culture Minister Yu In-chon said he will formulate a long-term overseas promotional strategy to boost the global popularity of Korean culture. more >
October 2008
Culture Minister Offers Apology for Swearwords
Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yu In-chon apologized Sunday for swearing at photojournalists during the parliamentary audit at the National Assembly.
more >
Discounted Tickets for Teachers, Students
Unsold tickets to cultural events will be sold at discounted prices to students and teachers starting next year, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yu In-chon said Thursday. more >
Culture hub plan losing money
The project aimed at transforming Gwangju into a hub of Asian culture is expected to yield a deficit of about 100 billion won a year, but the government has not taken any measures to prevent the loss, a lawmaker said Tuesday. more >
Bae Receives National Order of Culture Merit
Hallyu (Korean wave) star Bae Yong-joon has been given the Hwa-Gwan Order of Culture Merit by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism at an event celebrating the 2008 Culture Day. more >
Korea-Thailand Partnership for the Future Proclaimed in Music
A year-long celebration of the 50th anniversary reached its peak Wednesday when Korean and Thai cultural performances took place in both countries at the same local time. more >
September 2008
Renewed Web Site of the Asia-Pacific Regional Center of Culturelink
The newly revamped website features International Standard Setting Instruments, National Policies of Asia-Pacific Countries, Articles and Research Papers, Cultural Statistics, On-going Cultural Events and Projects and Web Links within and beyond the Asia-Pacific region. more >
Korea and New Zealand to sign film pact
South Korea and New Zealand will sign a film co-production treaty next week, 15 months after producers from both countries began the process. more >
Opinion: Arts Council Korea Chairman
At a session evaluating the first-term board members early last month, outsiders voiced sharp criticism of the council`s ideologically biased policy, pork-barrel appropriations and favoritism committed by the first-term council. more >
Minister Eyes Cultural Hub
The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism has announced that the new administration will spur South Korea into a first-rate cultural hub by funding pan-regional projects among others. more >
June 2008
E-culture event to celebrate Korean IT culture
The Seoul e-culture festival, making its debut on July 7, aims to bring the usual offline activities of arts and other performances into the online scene to suggest a whole new way of experiencing of cultural activities. more >
Media organizations campaign to oust 3 ‘enemies of the press’
Three people - Choi Si-jung, the chairman of the Broadcasting and Communications Commission; Lee Dong-kwan, the presidential spokesperson; and Shin Jae-min, the vice minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism - have been criticized for leading a government attempt to control the media. more >
May 2008
Gov't declares first Together Day with expats
‘Together Day' on 20 May kicked off a week-long program of multicultural initiatives established by the government to promote understanding and social integration between people of different cultures living in Korea. more >
April 2008
Free museum entry starting from May
It's free entry for all state-run museums across the nation starting from May 1st to the end of this year, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. more >
March 2008
Korea forms lobby group for cultural industries
Ten Korean cultural organisations have formed a lobby group, the Korean Federation of Cultural Industries, to lobby the government and promote the cultural and creative industries of Korea. more >
Three Officials Step Down Under Pressure
Three heads of organizations under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Ministry have tendered their resignations apparently under pressure from the government. more >
‘Left-Leaning’ Cultural Leaders Urged to Quit
The nation's top cultural policymaker urged left-leaning leaders of cultural organizations appointed under the Roh Moo-hyun administration to step down. more >
February 2008
North Korea Welcomes New York Philharmonic
The North Koreans opened the door to some 400 people, the largest contingent of Americans to visit this isolated, totalitarian state since the Korean War ended in 1953. The group includes musicians, orchestra staff, television production crews and 80 journalists, as well as patrons who paid $100,000 a couple. more >
January 2008
Seoul Advised to Become Culture-Friendly
Prominent economists and scholars have stressed the importance of 'culturenomics' at an international conference in Seoul. more >
Korean communication ministry shuttered
President-elect Lee Myung-bak has dissolved the Ministry of Information and Communication in a drive for leaner government. more >
Hub City of Asian Culture and Worldwide Correspondents’ Program of Culture Cities
The Hub City of Asian Culture Project aims to forge cultural ties with Asian countries and includes a culture cities correspondents program. more >
December 2006
S. Korean artists oppose talks with U.S. for free trade deal
Dozens of South Korean artists took to the streets Friday to oppose a free trade deal with the United States, adding their voice to protests just days before the trade talks were to resume. more >
November 2006
Korean cultural center to open in Hanoi
A Korean cultural center will open in in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi to become the first such facility in Southeast Asia this weekend, South Korea's cultural ministry has announced. more >
August 2006
Cultural Connections the Key to US-Korea Relations
South Korea and the United States should concentrate more on cultivating personal and institutional relations that would outlast any political tensions, an American cultural director has said. more >
June 2006
Internal Turmoil Over Festival Preparations Reveal Gov. Interference
South Korea's preparations for the 2006 ARCO art fair hit an obstacle last week after the director and 12 other organizers resigned claiming excessive government meddling. more >
May 2006
S Korea and China sign agreement
The South Korean Government has offered a hand of cooperation to China, with the cultural ministries agreeing to help protect copyrights on cultural products. more >
March 2006
S. Korean minister to promote arts to Asia
South Korea's new culture minister has stated that he will be promoting exchanges with Asia in order to boost the country's cultural image. He hopes to boost ties with Asian countries that have embraced Korean cultural products. more >
S. Korea to start cultural exchange project with Asian artists
South Korea will invite 150 cultural experts and artists from other Asian countries this year, the start of a 10-year program aimed at boosting cultural interaction in the region, the Culture and Tourism Ministry said Wednesday. more >
February 2006
Seoul to spend W7.6tr on cultural drive
Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to spend around 7.6 trillion won ($7 billion) on expanding cultural facilities over the next 10 years. more >
Culture Ministry to push exchanges with emerging markets
The Culture and Tourism Ministry said yesterday it will increase cultural exchanges with key emerging countries known as BRICs in a bid to strengthen the country's edge in the entertainment sector. more >
January 2006
S Korea trades film quota for US free trade
South Korea said today it would reduce by half its screen quota for domestically produced films in a move aimed at facilitating free trade talks with the United States. more >
Publishers claim book prices rose 4.5 percent last year
The price of books published in South Korea last year rose 4.5 percent from a year ago, statistics released by a local association of publishers showed Sunday. more >
November 2005
South Korea tests appeal of Korean culture at APEC
Accompanying the formal talks on regional issues, South Korea hosted several cultural programs alongside the Asia-Pacific forum in Busan in a bid to publicize what Koreans eat, read and appreciate -- and to learn what they can sell. more >
October 2005
Cultural Diversity Pact
The overwhelming yes for a UNESCO-backed convention to protect cultural diversity was little less than historic, culturally and economically. more >
July 2005
Kumho Head promises to continue supporting young cultural talents
Park Sam-koo, chairman and CEO of Kumho Asiana Group, knows he has big shoes to fill. Park is taking over as head of the Kumho Cultural Foundation from his late brother, Park Seong-yawng, a beloved figure in the local arts scene. more >
Experiencing world's museums in one day
The world's first comprehensive exposition of museums and culture - the 2005 World Museum Culture Expo - has set a landmark in the history of museums. more >
April 2005
Phase out the screen quota
Kang Chul-kyu, chairman of the Korean Fair Trade Commission, has announced that the government is considering phasing out the Korean film quota. This editorial calls for the Ministry of Culture to 'clarify its position on the screen quota, however belatedly, and then persuade those in the film industry, while presenting them with an industry-specific development plan.' more >
March 2005
Seoul to reach out to cultural leaders in Asia for partnership
South Korea is planning a budget to build a network of artists and cultural experts around Asia who will promote Korean culture in their home countries, officials said Thursday. more >
Cultural Heritage Chief to Visit Dokdo
South Korea's top cultural heritage policymaker will visit the Dokdo islets, officials said Friday. more >
January 2005
Seoul to Become Hub for Culture
As Seoul becomes increasingly vibrant on the cultural front, the government has come up with a series of plans to strengthen its cultural infrastructure. A huge performing arts complex dedicated to classical music and costing over 40 billion won will open on Nodulsom, an island in the Han River, by late 2007. more >
December 2004
Asia's first China cultural centre opens in Seoul
The world's fourth China cultural centre opened in South Korea Tuesday to promote cultural exchanges between the two countries. more >
October 2004
'Culture is key industry for next generation', say Korean officials
The Korea Culture and Contents Agency, a sub-organisation of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, believes that the potential of the entertainment industry is so huge that it looks set to become a key industry of the next generation. more >
Vandalism threatens South Korea's cultural heritage
The destruction of ancient cultural heritage in war-ridden countries such as Iraq or Afghanistan is well documented. South Korea, however, is also facing such problems, with experts warning that decades of near-obsession with economic development have meant little protection for the country's irreplaceable relics. more >
Seoul pledges support for Iraq's cultural heritage restoration
South Korean Culture Minister Chung Dong-chae said on Friday the government would consider providing support for Iraq's project to restore its world-famous cultural assets damaged by the war. more >
August 2004
S Korea, Hong Kong to Sign Cultural Accord with Hong Kong
The South Korean government will conclude a memorandum of understanding on cultural cooperation with China's Hong Kong special administrative region, officials at the Foreign Ministry said Monday. more >
World Culture Open due in Seoul
This fall, amidst all the Olympic hype the world will once again be treated to another borderless global festival - the World Culture Open, a multi national non-profit, non-governmental organisation to promote the value of cultural diversity, more >
Cultural properties institute preserves sounds of yesterday
Back about 35 or 40 years ago during Korea's postwar recovery period when the nation was rushing toward modernisation and industrialisation, scholars of folklore and ethnology began to realise that the country was in danger or losing its traditional cultural heritage. more >
July 2004
Seoul hosts UNESCO International Forum
UNESCO and the Korean National Commission for UNESCO will hold an international forum entitled '21st Century Dialogues,' from tomorrow to Wednesday in Seoul, marking the 50th anniversary of the Korean commission's foundation. more >
Celebrating the Korean-American experience
Dr. Trina Nahm-Mijo, one of 38 contributors to a new book 'Yobo: Korean-American Writing in Hawaii', gave a short performance celebrating the 100th anniversary of Korean immigration to the United States this past weekend at Seoul Selection in Seoul. more >
June 2004
Two Koreas to jointly host int'l cultural event
South and North Korea will jointly host an international cultural forum in September to promote exchanges between North Korea and the rest of the world, officials said Sunday. more >
Film people meet over screen quota
Members of the South Korean film industry on Wednesday held what is sure to be the first of many emergency meetings to discuss response to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s decision to change the current quota system protecting domestic films. more >
Ministry announces blueprint for reviving creative arts
The government plans to spend about 1.7 trillion won (US$1.46 billion) by 2008 to revitalise cultural arts in South Korea, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said Tuesday. more >
Cultural Exemption in FTA Urged
The Third International Meeting of Cultural Professional Organisations ended Friday in Seoul with participants reiterating their stance on the need to protect cultural products from international trade agreements. more >
NGOs tackle threats to cultural diversity
The third International Meeting of Cultural Professional Organisations kicked off its four-day run in western Seoul yesterday, tackling the issue of how to cope with threats to cultural diversity. more >
May 2004
Creating Art Hub Easier Said Than Done
With preparations under way to host the 2005 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting next fall and the upcoming Busan Film Festival, it is little wonder that Korea's biggest port city has pushed art to the sidelines. more >
April 2004
National Museum of Korea Moves
The National Museum of Korea, located inside the Gyeongbok Palace in downtown Seoul, is currently moving its artifacts to a new and permanent home. more >
September 2003
Art foundation reform sparks dispute
There has been much discussion in recent years about how to revamp the Korea Culture and Arts Foundation, making it more independent and professionally structured. The government's plan to change the organiaation into the tentatively named 'Culture and Arts Commission' is one such attempt. more >
Tendentiousness in the arts
The Korean government spared no effort in getting its man placed at the National Center for Traditional Korean Performing Arts, and went as far as to change the membership of the judging committee. more >
July 2003
Seoul seeks Hollywood's consent for trade pact
Culture policymakers are in talks with Hollywood filmmakers to separate the screen quota system from the issue of sealing a bilateral investment treaty (BIT) between Seoul and Washington. more >
June 2003
Culture minister firm about screen quota
Lee Chang-dong, the outspoken South Korean Minister of Culture and Tourism, denied numerous reports that the administration is seriously considering easing the screen quota system, which requires theatres to fill 40% of their schedule with domestic films. more >
March 2003
Filmmaker appointed as South Korea's Minister of Culture
South Korean film director Lee Chang-dong has been named Minister of Culture and Tourism in a surprise appointment by new Korean president Roh Moo-hyun. more >
December 2002
Museums for reconciliation and history
Two centrally located museums, the Museum of History and Museum of Art, have opened in Seoul. Within the art museum, a digital unit called Media City is seen as part of a massive government campaign to promote the country’s information technology. more >
November 2002
Eifman ballet to present acclaimed repertoire
Boris Eifman, one of the most successful choreographers working today, and his Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg will present their acclaimed creations 'Russian Hamlet,' 'The Karamazovs' and 'Don Quixote' in December at the LG Arts Center in Seoul. more >
October 2002
Cinema Service boosts investment in Korean film industry
South Korean major Cinema Service is to boost its investment in local film production amidst what appears to be an exodus of venture capital from the industry. more >
July 2002
Korea scores with film fans
South Korean producer and former chief of the Korean Film Commission's international business department Paul Yi says the relationship between his country's film and sport industries is complex. more >
Public support for Korea's cultural industry
The Korean government has considered culture technology a core technology for state development and, subsequently, published a comprehensive plan for developing skillful workers related to the culture industry. The results have been promising. more >
May 2002
Free trade regimes kill cultural diversity, says Canadian activist
The wider acceptance of comprehensive free trade regimes may have worked to advance economic benefits in many countries, but it is hardly a welcome sign to the growing number of advocates working to preserve cultural diversity throughout the world. more >
June 2012
International Conference on Knowledge, Culture and Society 2012
ICKCS 2012, aims to bring together researchers, scientists, engineers, and scholar students to exchange and share their experiences, new ideas, and research results about all aspects of Knowledge, Culture and Society, and discuss the practical challenges encountered and the solutions adopted. more >
26th June Congress
The International Society for the Performing Arts (ISPA) will hold its 26th June Congress in Seoul, Korea. more >
August 2011
Seoul Educators Workshop 2011 in Alliance with Lincoln Center Institute
The Seoul Educators Workshop 2011 has an ambitious agenda: to challenge both arts educators of all arts genres and general classroom teachers to not only define their goals in relation to an arts education with a new perspective, but also to define their role as individuals and as members of the community. more >
October 2010
Korea Arts Management Service holds 6th Performing Arts Market in Seoul (PAMS)
The 6th Performing Arts Market in Seoul (PAMS), held by Korea Arts Management Service (ISPA member organization), will take place from October 11 to 15, 2010 in Seoul. more >
May 2010
Second World Conference on Arts Education
This conference in Seoul aims to promote and to reinforce the value of quality arts education for all, in developing a capacity for creativity in the 21st century for youth and all generation. more >
2nd World Conference on Arts Education
The second UNESCO World Conference on Arts Education, hosted by the Government of the Republic of Korea and co-organized by UNESCO, builds on the work of the successful 1st World Conference held in Lisbon in 2006.Leading experts from around the world exchange their valuable vision on Arts and Education to highlight the significant role of arts education within and outside of the school environment, as well as to further advocate the importance of arts education to the international community. more >
La Segunda Conferencia Mundial sobre Educación Artística: “Arte para la sociedad, Educación para la Creatividad”
La UNESCO y la República de Corea se complacen en invitarlos a participar en la Segunda Conferencia Mundial sobre Educación Artística que se realizará en Seúl del 25 al 28 de mayo de 2010. more >
Seoul Educators Workshop 2010 in Alliance with Lincoln Center Institute
The Seoul Educators Workshop (SEW) 2010 in alliance with Lincoln Center Institute for the Arts in Education (LCI) is a professional-development project with an international scope. more >
November 2008
The 9th International Joint World Cultural Tourism Conference 2008
The aim of this conference is to provide a forum for international educators, scholars, researchers, industry professionals, policy-makers and graduate students with opportunity to explore and discuss issues in the topics on culture, tourism business and management. more >
November 2007
8th International Joint World Cultural Tourism Conference 2007
The aim of this conference is to provide a forum for international educators, scholars, researchers, industry professionals, policy-makers and graduate students with opportunity to explore and discuss issues in the topics on cultural tourism promotion. more >
May 2007
November 2006
October 2006
October 2004
June 2011
International Co-Production Manual: the journey which is full of surprises
IETM - international network for contemporary performing arts and KAMS - Korea Arts Management Service have just launched a free downloadable publication for cultural operators and artists interested by cooperation in Asia, in Europe and between Asia and Europe. more >
January 2010
The Republic of Korea at the Center of the World
New book marks Korea's hosting of G20 summit next year. more >
June 2008
Asia Arts Networks
Summer 2008 edition of the Korea Culture and Arts Journal contains a number of articles on IFACCA’s Asian chapter and other Asia arts networks. more >
May 2007
Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage: Key Factors in Implementing the 2003 Convention
Is the 2003 Intangible Cultural Heritage Convention up to the task it has set for itself? more >
Turning vision into reality: Arts and culture education in Korea
An overview of arts and education policies in South Korea. more >
The international who's who in cultural policy, planning and research >