The South Korean government has significantly raised its national goal for the K-Culture sector from 300 trillion won to 400 trillion won within just one year of the current administration. This adjustment includes expanding the definition of K-Culture to encompass foreign tourism, food, beauty, and fashion, aiming to substantially increase the market size. However, some in the cultural sector criticize this move as mere inflation of numbers by grouping together profitable industries under the K-Culture label.
During a press conference on May 28 at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young stated, "We have redefined and refined the concept of K-Culture, aiming to industrialize it and make it a reality."
When the government launched last year, it set a target to grow the cultural industry to 300 trillion won by 2030. Now, as it marks its first anniversary, the Ministry has expanded the K-Culture scope to include export figures from foreign tourism, food, beauty, and fashion, while excluding some ambiguous or overlapping items.
Minister Choi noted, "The foreign currency spent by tourists visiting Korea should be included in the K-Culture industry, as it has been missing from statistics until now. The same applies to K-Food, K-Beauty, and K-Fashion." He added that these export figures reflect the demand generated by K-Culture's appeal, justifying their inclusion in the K-Culture category.
As a result of this redefinition, the K-Culture market size has reportedly increased to an estimated 274 trillion won as of last year, nearing the previously set target of 300 trillion won for 2030. Consequently, the government has raised its target from 300 trillion won to 400 trillion won.
The export figures have also surged. Previously reported at approximately $14.9 billion based on content-focused statistics, the inclusion of beauty and food has expanded this figure to $71.8 billion. This makes K-Culture the third-largest export sector in South Korea, following semiconductors ($173.4 billion) and automobiles ($72 billion). In line with this, the export target for 2030 has been dramatically increased from $35 billion to $110 billion.
Minister Choi emphasized, "K-Culture is a key growth driver for our economy. With the potential increase in leisure time due to the spread of artificial intelligence, the contribution of K-Culture to foreign currency earnings is expected to grow even more. We need to foster this sector with greater urgency."
Additionally, the Ministry plans to hold a large-scale K-Culture festival called 'Phenomenon' twice a year, starting in December 2027, with events in major cities worldwide in May and domestic awards in December. The government also aims to expand K-Culture centers in major cities and promote domestic tourism through initiatives like the '5 Regions 3 Special Mega Tourism Zone' and discounted travel policies to achieve an early target of 30 million tourists.
However, some cultural critics argue that the government is overly focused on industrial logic in its approach to becoming a 'cultural powerhouse.' They express concern that the emphasis on quantifiable results overshadows the need to enhance the overall competitiveness of the arts.
Kim Jae-sang, head of the Cultural Solidarity, questioned the validity of grouping beauty and fashion under K-Culture, stating, "There is little visible support for foundational arts. It is questionable whether the entire cultural and artistic sector is being revitalized." He added that there is significant concern that the government views culture solely as a means of generating economic profit.
An anonymous source from the cultural sector remarked, "Under the declaration of becoming a cultural powerhouse, it seems like a numbers game to incorporate immediately measurable industries into K-Culture. The national goal should be redefined as 'cultural industry powerhouse' rather than just 'cultural powerhouse.' Long-term policies to strengthen foundational arts and the creative ecosystem are not evident."
Minister Choi concluded, "When we shift our goals to 400 trillion won for K-Culture and $110 billion for exports, the perspective on the cultural industry itself will change. If we can create a consensus that culture is a new growth driver, bold investments will follow. I will prove this."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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