The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, led by Minister Choi Hwi-young, announced Wednesday that it will distribute 240,000 performance discount coupons worth 10,000 won each on May 22 through online booking platforms and arts and culture centers in non-metropolitan areas, in cooperation with the Korea Arts Management Service and the Arts Council Korea.
This first round of coupon distribution draws on a portion of the 4.1 billion won supplementary budget for 2026 (covering 400,000 coupons), secured to expand public access to performing arts and revitalize the performing arts market. The remaining budget will be used for a second-round distribution of 160,000 coupons in September. The performance coupon rollout follows an earlier distribution of movie discount coupons (6,000 won). The difference in discount amounts reflects the price gap between movie and performance tickets.
The performance coupons will be issued starting at 10 a.m. on May 22 through five online booking platforms — Naver Reservation, Nol Universe, Yes24, Time Ticket and Ticketlink — on a first-come, first-served basis, with each platform offering up to two coupons per person. Coupons issued during the first distribution period from May 22 to August 20 can only be used for performances scheduled on or before September 3. Eligible categories include theater, musicals, Western classical music, Korean traditional music (gugak), dance and multi-genre performances, while pop music and pop dance are excluded.
The coupons will be issued on a weekly basis throughout the distribution period. Each week, coupons can be obtained and used at each booking platform from 10 a.m. on Friday until midnight the following Thursday. Unused coupons will automatically expire at the end of each period. For example, coupons issued between May 22 and 28 can only be used through May 28.
In addition, those who received and used first-round coupons through August 20 can also apply for second-round coupons starting in September.
Each coupon is worth 10,000 won and one coupon applies per payment (up to two coupons per booking platform). Even for performances priced below the coupon value, the discount can be used by purchasing multiple tickets in a single transaction totaling 15,000 won or more. The coupons can also be combined with existing discounts offered by the booking platforms.
To boost regional performances, additional coupons valid only for shows held at venues in non-metropolitan areas will be issued through three online booking platforms — Naver Reservation, Time Ticket and Ticketlink — with up to two coupons per person. The ministry will also operate a phone helpline to assist senior citizens, people with disabilities and others unfamiliar with online booking, while the booking platforms will provide phone-based support for coupon issuance.
"We hope this support for performing arts admission will allow citizens to enjoy the performing arts more closely in their daily lives and help the performing arts community regain its vitality," a ministry official said.
Separately, the ministry has been distributing 2.25 million movie discount coupons worth 6,000 won each since the 13th. An additional 2.25 million coupons are scheduled to be distributed starting in July.
