South Korea has launched the Presidential Committee on Popular Culture Exchange on October 1, co-chaired by Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young and JYP Entertainment's Chief Producer Park Jin-young.
The committee aims to establish a national vision for popular culture exchange policies and strengthen public-private cooperation to promote the continuous spread of Korean popular culture and realize the vision of a cultural powerhouse. The regulations for the establishment and operation of the committee were approved at a cabinet meeting on September 23 and have been in effect since September 25.
The committee's leadership was announced on September 9 at the presidential office, with Choi Hwi-young and Park Jin-young as co-chairs. Government members include vice ministers from 10 related ministries (Culture, Finance, Science, Foreign Affairs, Justice, Interior, Agriculture, Industry, Welfare, and SMEs) and the presidential office's social chief. The private sector members consist of 26 experts from seven subcommittees (popular music, gaming, webtoons and animation, film and video, lifestyle, investment, and policy). These members are key figures in the global popular culture industry, reflecting the committee's goal to leverage private sector expertise in a rapidly changing international environment.
According to the committee's regulations, the total number of members is set at 50, with 39 currently appointed. The committee plans to expand its membership as needed to cover a broader and deeper range of popular culture and related industries.
Additionally, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will establish a new Cultural Arts Policy Advisory Committee directly under the minister to incorporate diverse voices from the cultural and arts fields. This committee will consist of approximately 90 experts from nine sectors, including theater, musicals, classical music, literature, visual arts, popular music, film and video, gaming, and webtoons and animation, with appointments scheduled for October.
Minister Choi Hwi-young stated, "The Popular Culture Exchange Committee and the Cultural Arts Policy Advisory Committee are the two wings to achieve the 300 trillion won K-Culture goal and realize a cultural powerhouse. Through these committees, we will continue policy advice and communication across the cultural and arts spectrum without leaving any field behind."
Reported by Kim Ji-won, TenAsia one@tenasia.co.kr