Korean companies' total spending on arts and culture support fell last year for the first time in three years.
According to the "2025 Survey on Corporate Arts and Culture Support" released Thursday by the Korea Mecenat Association, domestic companies' total arts and culture funding came to approximately 196.9 billion won. The survey covered 737 companies, including the top 500 firms by domestic revenue and corporate cultural foundations.
The number of supporting companies (728) and the number of support cases (2,392) rose 24% and 28.5%, respectively, from a year earlier, but the scale of support (196.879 billion won) declined 7.4%.
Reduced support for infrastructure such as performance venues weighed on the overall decline in funding. Support for the infrastructure sector was approximately 110.6 billion won, down 7.9% from the previous year. The art and exhibition sector also fell 27.7% year-on-year, affected by reduced support activities in the retail industry. Funding for the classical music (-4.8%) and arts and culture education (-9.8%) sectors also declined, affected by the conclusion of projects that companies had operated over the long term.
In contrast, funding increased in the creative musical (85.2%), theater (27%), video and media (20.2%), and non-mainstream and multidisciplinary arts (11%) sectors. However, these sectors accounted for a small share by amount.
Among individual companies, Hyundai Department Store recorded the largest support scale, newly taking first place. Hyundai Department Store is active in running exhibitions, performances, and education programs at venues including the "ALT.1 Museum," "Gallery H," the "Hyundai Museum of Kids' Books and Art," and culture halls. It also continues support through collaboration with artists, including design product development and the creation of cultural spaces.
In the corporate foundation category, the Samsung Foundation of Culture maintained first place again this year. The Samsung Foundation of Culture operates the "Leeum Museum of Art" and the "Hoam Museum of Art," continuously presenting not only large-scale exhibitions that convey contemporary trends but also unique exhibition content of high art-historical value. In addition, it continues to support arts and culture in various fields through the complex cultural space "Sounds S," running differentiated programs such as classical music and traditional performances.
The Korea Mecenat Association said, "This was a period in which the scale of corporate arts and culture support contracted, and companies selectively adjusted their support projects in response to economic volatility." It suggested, "It is time to expand effective policy support, such as tax deductions for companies that support arts and culture, to fully promote and encourage corporate sponsorship."
