From creative support to AI convergence...MCST to Hold Debate on Amendments to the Culture and Arts Promotion Act

[Financial News] A forum will be held to discuss revisions to the Culture and Arts Promotion Act, which would support artistic creation, regional cultural and arts ecosystems, and the convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and the arts.
According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on the 27th, it will hold the “Policy Debate on Revisions to the Culture and Arts Promotion Act” at 2 p.m. on the 28th in the main auditorium of Open Hall at Korea National Open University in Jongno District, Seoul.
Enacted in 1972, the Culture and Arts Promotion Act has effectively served as a framework law for the cultural and arts sector. From its inception, it provided for the establishment and operation of the Culture and Arts Promotion Fund to support projects and activities in fields including literature, fine arts and music.
The Act has undergone two complete revisions, in 1995 and 2007, as well as several partial revisions. However, concerns have been raised that it has not sufficiently reflected the changing needs of the arts community and the policy environment. The 2007 complete revision focused on improving difficult terminology and sentence structure.
The debate will share the key provisions of the bill for a complete revision, introduced as the lead sponsor by lawmaker Cho Gye-won on July 21, and of partial-revision bills introduced in the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea. On that basis, participants will examine tasks including establishing a foundation for cultural and arts policy, promoting creative activity, strengthening regional ecosystems, supporting the arts industry, and supporting the convergence of technology, including AI, and the arts.
Following an explanation of the proposed amendments by an MCST official, Yang Hye-won, head of the Cultural Research Division at the Korea Culture & Tourism Institute, will lead the designated discussion. Panelists will include Park Young-jung, former president of the Korean Artists Welfare Foundation; playwright Kook Min-seong; Kim Hyun-joo, head of the Culture and Arts Division at the Chungbuk Cultural Foundation; Shin Da-hye, CEO of Pil Deo Pil; Min Se-hee, a visual artist who uses AI; and Kim Hong-pil, director of the Arts Policy Division at MCST.
After the designated discussion, there will be an open discussion and a question-and-answer session with attendees. Anyone may participate without registering in advance, and the event will also be livestreamed on MCST's official YouTube channel.
An MCST policy official said, “The legal basis supporting key aspects of cultural and arts policy, including support for creative work and artists, has been inadequate in some respects,” adding, “We will pursue revisions to the law to improve the effectiveness of the Culture and Arts Promotion Act while reflecting the changing policy environment.”
MCST plans to convey the views gathered at the debate to the National Assembly's bill review process.

[email protected] Jang In-seo Reporter