South Korea's State-led Cultural Policies

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Timeline

Protecting Tradition Cultural

The Park Chung-hee Era (1963–1979)

President Park Chung-hee officially designated culture and education as the "second economy." To protect Korean culture from Western influence and eradicate the lingering effects of Japanese colonization, the government enacted the Culture and Arts Promotion Act in August 1972. This was South Korea's first major piece of legislation specifically established to fund and protect local arts.

Discovering the Economic Value of Entertainment

Kim Young-sam Era (1993–1998)

A 1994 report released by the Presidential Advisory Board on Science and Technology pointed out that the global revenue generated by the American film Jurassic Park was equivalent to exporting 1.5 million Hyundai cars. This led the Kim Young-sam administration to realize that culture could generate revenue just like traditional manufacturing. That same year, the Ministry of Culture and Sports established the Cultural Industry Bureau. In 1995, the administration passed the Motion Pictures Promotion Act, officially allowing large corporations to invest in the entertainment industry.

Making Culture a Core National Export

Kim Dae-jung Era (1998–2003)

In 1999, the Kim Dae-jung administration enacted the Framework Act on the Promotion of Cultural Industries, legally defining cultural products as major export items. The administration significantly increased the national budget for the entertainment industry, raising the cultural industry budget from $14 million in 1998 to $84 million in 2001.

Funding the Creators

Roh Moo-hyun Era (2003–2008)

The Roh Moo-hyun administration focused on supporting small businesses. The government expanded the legal framework to provide direct financial subsidies for new cultural startups, ensuring that more creators had the funding to produce music, films, and games for export.

Upgrading the National Image

Lee Myung-bak Era (2008–2013)

In January 2009, the government officially established the Presidential Council on Nation Branding. The Lee Myung-bak administration shifted the direction of cultural policy from an export-focused strategy to one centered on nation branding and competitiveness. To support digital and modern media, the administration passed the Content Industry Promotion Act. In 2010, specifically organizing government support for digital content and pop culture.

Culture as Diplomatic Policy

Park Geun-hye Era (2013–2017)

In December 2013, the Park Geun-hye administration enacted the Framework Act on Culture, officially integrating cultural diplomacy into the core national foreign policy agenda. Driven by the national priority of "Cultural Enrichment," this period marked South Korea's strategic use of the Korean Wave (Hallyu) as a primary resource for soft power diplomacy and cross-cultural cooperation.

The "New Hallyu" Strategy

Moon Jae-in Era (2017–2022)

In July 2020, the Moon Jae-in administration introduced the New Hallyu Promotion Policy Plan to maximize the economic premium of cultural exports. Recognizing that cultural influence drives consumption in other sectors, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) established a cross-departmental framework to support the joint global expansion of K-content, consumer goods, and tourism. In 2021, the government officially appointed BTS as Special Presidential Envoys to represent South Korea at the United Nations General Assembly.

Maintaining Global Leadership

Yoon Suk-yeol Era (2022–2025)

The Yoon Suk-yeol administration set the goal of becoming a "global pivotal state," focusing on "promoting freedom, peace, and prosperity based on Seoul's democratic values and cooperation." In 2023, the administration released the K-Content Export Strategy. This policy officially elevated the pop culture industry to the same level of national importance as the semiconductor industry.