Illustrator Jeong So-hee took over two years to pass the Arts Activity Certification process. Despite having over 20 exhibitions to his name, he faced repeated rejections and requests for additional documentation before finally receiving approval this year. He stated, "I had to invest more energy in writing a report to prove I am an artist than in creating my work."
The controversy surrounding the Arts Activity Certification is spreading throughout the cultural and artistic community. Artists point to the unclear evaluation criteria, prolonged delays in the review process, and administrative standards that are disconnected from reality as issues that need addressing.
On November 6, 2010, Lee Jin-won, a solo indie band member of 'Moonlight Fairy Home Run,' was found dead at his home in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. A few months later, on January 29, 2011, screenwriter Choi Ko-eun was discovered dead at her residence in Seoksu-dong, Anyang. Both artists were well-known in the indie music and film industries but struggled with financial difficulties due to unfair contract structures and unstable incomes. Their deaths prompted the enactment of the 'Arts Welfare Law' on November 18, 2012, which led to the establishment of the Arts Welfare Foundation the following day.
The Arts Activity Certification system aims to provide a minimum social safety net and access to welfare for struggling artists. It is considered a necessary qualification for applying to various government and public institution support programs, including creative grants, rental housing, employment insurance, and loan programs.
However, artists on the ground express a lack of guidance regarding the system.
Visual artist Shin Yoon-jung applied for the Arts Activity Certification four times but was rejected each time. He said, "I was at a loss about how to prepare because I couldn't understand the criteria for sincerity. Even trying to guess based on the experiences of other artists, the standards kept changing."
Shin also eventually passed the review but has yet to receive a clear explanation from the welfare foundation regarding the reasons for his approval. He expressed concern about not being able to endure the same process if he were to be rejected in the next review.
The review period has also been problematic. Artists, including Jeong and Shin, reported waiting at least three to six months for the results of their re-evaluations.
Han Mo, 31, who has worked in stage direction, shared, "I received a 'not approved' notice while on my way from a logistics center to the theater. It felt pointless after waiting four months."
Discrepancies between the review criteria and reality have also come under scrutiny.
A flat painter pointed out that participation in art fairs, which are auction-style exhibitions, is not recognized as artistic activity. "The fastest way to establish a long-term relationship with a gallery and hold a solo exhibition is to pay to participate in an art fair," the artist explained. Despite submitting a history of participating in a prominent art fair known for showcasing emerging artists for several years to prove 'continuity,' he received a response stating, 'it cannot be recorded.'
He added, "It doesn't make sense that even major art fairs like Kiaf/Frieze, which the First Lady has attended, cannot be recorded as they are not considered 'solo exhibitions.'"
As dissatisfaction grew within the arts community, a discussion on the Arts Activity Certification was held on April 22, organized by lawmaker Son Sol at the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee. Participants criticized the lack of clarity in evaluation criteria, poor communication, and the opacity of the review process.
Installation artist Lee Seung-hyun stated, "We are not asking for the threshold to be lowered indiscriminately; we want to know what the problems are and what criteria lead to rejection."
Calls for transparency in the review process were also voiced. Actor Oh Se-gon, who participated in the initial design task force for the Arts Activity Certification system, emphasized the need to clarify who the committee members are and whether there were offline discussions and debates.
A survey conducted by artists themselves revealed similar sentiments. About 63.6% of respondents deemed the current evaluation criteria inappropriate, and 53% reported a lack of feedback regarding reasons for rejection.
The Ministry of Culture and the welfare foundation also had their perspectives. Kim Ga-jin, head of the planning and coordination team at the Korea Arts Welfare Foundation, stated during the discussion, "We need to verify whether individuals are truly pursuing art as a profession, whether their results can be documented, and whether their works have been consumed and distributed to the public." She explained that the increasing number of applicants who do not meet all three criteria has made rejections unavoidable.
Regarding delays in the review process, she noted, "The number of applications has surged, but we lack sufficient personnel to handle them," adding that currently about ten staff members are responsible for the reviews.
As of March 2026, there are five full-time and five contract workers involved in the Arts Activity Certification review process. With 43,419 applicants' documents being reviewed by just over ten people, the lack of established criteria and delays are understandable, according to their explanation.
However, there are voices on the ground that find these explanations insufficient.
A notable example is the 'Youth Artists' Arts Activity Savings Account' program, which began last year. This initiative allows young artists to save a certain amount, with the government matching that amount. The program saw a large influx of applicants.
However, as of February 4, 2026, the application period closed within half a day due to being 'first-come, first-served.' Critics point out the contradiction in explaining that the review process takes a long time due to a shortage of reviewers while support program applications close within a day.
This year, the total budget for the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is approximately 7.8555 trillion won, an 11.2% increase from last year. Of this, the Arts Welfare Foundation's share is around 200 billion won. However, how that money is spent remains unclear.
Artists emphasize that understanding the actual creative environment is more important than simply increasing the budget. Jeong, who previously spoke to the media, questioned, "I want to ask if the current criteria truly serve artists who are solely dedicated to creation," stressing the need for a broader understanding of artists' creative activities.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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