Last week, the film "The Man Who Lives with the King" drew an average of around 200,000 moviegoers on weekdays, but recorded 310,000 on Wednesday, February 25. Major theaters offered discounts for "Culture Day," held on the last Wednesday of each month. Starting in April, "Culture Day" will expand to every Wednesday.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced Tuesday that the cabinet approved an amendment to the Framework Act on Culture's enforcement decree, expanding "Culture Day" from the last Wednesday of each month to every Wednesday. This increases "Culture Day" from once a month to four or more times monthly.
The amendment takes effect in April following a preparation period after promulgation. The ministry described it as "a policy turning point that transforms cultural access from a specific 'event day' into a 'life rhythm,' going beyond a simple increase in frequency."
The government plans to lower barriers by first expanding cultural benefits at national and public cultural institutions. It will strengthen "Wednesday specialized programs" tailored to each institution's characteristics to broaden everyday cultural access. Local governments will enhance region-specific programs linked to local cultural assets such as hanok traditional houses, nongak folk music, and craft workshops.
For the private sector, considering concerns about the expanded "Culture Day," benefits including discounts will operate on a "voluntary participation basis." Each industry can independently plan discounts, events, and special programs according to its business conditions and characteristics. The ministry plans to develop measures supporting private sector participation.
However, concerns are already emerging from the private sector. An industry official said, "We sympathize with the government's intent, but we cannot rule out the possibility that companies will bear the full burden." The official added, "Audiences who visited theaters because of the specialness and scarcity of once a month may actually participate less as it increases to four times monthly."
The ministry emphasized, "We will do our best to ensure culture permeates deeply into citizens' daily lives and contributes to elevating quality of life, using the leading role of national and public institutions and voluntary private sector participation as driving forces."