[Exclusive] Promised support for young people, but 800 billion won set to be poured in, with ticket prices poised to soar

[Financial News] Analysts warn that movie, concert and musical ticket prices could surge if the Youth Culture and Arts Pass program, with a budget of 797.5 billion won, is implemented next year. The three markets were worth 2.5275 trillion won in 2025, and the analysis found that injecting subsidies equivalent to about 31.1% of that value over a short period could have a considerable impact on the market.
A “2027 Budget Proposal and Review Report for the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism,” obtained on the 5th through the office of Jo Eun-hee, a People Power Party lawmaker on the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, concluded that the Youth Culture and Arts Pass program requires comprehensive discussion. The report was prepared by the committee’s senior expert adviser and expert advisers.
The Youth Culture and Arts Pass is a program that subsidizes young people’s admission to cultural and artistic events, indirectly supporting creative activity and revitalizing the cultural and arts market. Introduced on a pilot basis in 2024, it provided 150,000 won per person to 19-year-olds (about 160,000 people) in 2024 and 2025, with an annual budget of 17 billion won. In 2026, eligibility was expanded to 19- and 20-year-olds (about 280,000 people), with 36.1 billion won allocated to provide 150,000 to 200,000 won per person.
The government plans to substantially expand eligibility from 2027 to young people aged 19 to 34. Although the per-person benefit was slightly reduced to 100,000 won in the Seoul metropolitan area and 150,000 won elsewhere, the number of recipients rose sharply from 280,000 the previous year to 6.43 million. The budget also increased 22-fold to 797.5 billion won. The funding will come from the Future Fund, which is financed by excess tax revenue.
The report warns that the Youth Culture and Arts Pass could affect prices. Most of the subsidies go to three sectors: movies, concerts and musicals. As of August 2026, spending in those sectors was found to account for 87.7% of the total. The three markets are worth 2.5275 trillion won, and the report projected that injecting 787.5 billion won—equivalent to 31.1% of their value—could have a major impact. It said, “If 787.5 billion won in subsidies is injected into the market over a short period, suppliers in the cultural and arts market may raise ticket prices or reduce the discounts they have traditionally offered.”
If ticket prices rise, people outside the eligible youth age group who do not receive the subsidies are likely to be affected. The report said, “If the real price of tickets rises in the short term, the financial burden on age groups that do not benefit from the Youth Culture and Arts Pass could increase,” adding, “If the higher prices persist over the long term, this could reduce overall social welfare.”
It is also uncertain whether the Youth Culture and Arts Pass can be sustained over the long term. The program is funded through the Future Fund, whose resources could shrink when the semiconductor boom ends. Concerns have been raised that it may be difficult to cut the budget because the program is welfare spending that supports young people’s cultural and artistic activities. Critics have also warned of possible improper claims, including the online transfer of tickets.
Lawmaker Jo Eun-hee stressed, “Pouring 800 billion won into this program without a funding plan or any verification of its effectiveness is nothing more than ‘coupon politics’ that holds future generations hostage so the government can take credit. With tax money at risk of being concentrated on hit productions and the burden of higher ticket prices falling on the public, the side effects—including market distortions and widening cultural disparities—must be thoroughly assessed first, and the plan to increase the budget 22-fold must be reconsidered from the ground up.”
[email protected] Lee Hae-ram Reporter