Next year’s film budget proposal hits a record 167.3 billion won; MCST expands support for production and overseas expansion

[Financial News] The government’s budget proposal for next year, which supports the production and distribution of Korean films, has been set at a record 167.3 billion won.
According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Minister Choi Hwi-young will chair a series of meetings of the animation and film subcommittees of the Culture and Arts Policy Advisory Committee at the Seoul branch of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art on the 13th. He will discuss detailed directions for next year’s government-funded projects and ways to improve the system with industry experts.
The government’s proposal for the film sector is up 30.8% from this year. It allocates 10.2 billion won to support independent and art film production and 10 billion won to foster film festivals at home and abroad. Support for international co-productions will rise from 3 billion won to 7.3 billion won, and 6 billion won has been newly allocated to attract foreign films to shoot in Korea.
According to the Korean Film Council’s “2025 Review of the Korean Film Industry,” total theater admissions last year were 106.09 million, down 13.8% from the previous year. The slump was more pronounced for Korean films, whose admissions fell 39.0% to 43.58 million over the same period.
The government’s animation-sector proposal reflects the long production timelines involved and includes plans to gradually expand continuous, multiyear support programs. It also plans to continue supporting works based on outstanding original intellectual property (IP) and the production of theatrical animation, as well as operating an animation-focused fund under the Korea Fund of Funds.
The government will seek further budget increases for recoupable and performance-linked production support programs, which are frequently requested by the industry. At the meeting, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will also review measures to strengthen the animation industry’s self-sustainability.
Minister Choi said, “Recommendations from experts in the field are a reliable compass for shaping government policy and budget proposals,” adding, “I will implement this carefully so that it becomes a turning point in restoring vitality to the stagnant K-movie ecosystem.”
[email protected] Jang In-seo Reporter