South Korea’s Cultural Sector Sees 58.6% Attendance Surge in 2023

South Korea’s Cultural and Artistic Sector Shows Continued Recovery in 2023 with 58.6% Increase in Direct Attendance Rate

The cultural and artistic sector in South Korea is expected to continue its recovery trend in 2023, with a projected direct attendance rate of 58.6%, according to the recent “2023 National Cultural and Artistic Activities Survey” released by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute.

Steady Recovery Since 2021

Although the current attendance rate has not yet reached pre-COVID-19 levels, there has been a consistent recovery in cultural and artistic enjoyment since 2021. The survey provides valuable data for understanding the level and changes in cultural and leisure activities among the Korean population.

Increase in Participation in Cultural and Artistic Events

The survey results reveal that the direct attendance rate for cultural and artistic events in the past year (August 1, 2022, to July 31, 2023) was 58.6%. While this represents a 23.2% decrease compared to 2019, it shows a slight increase compared to the low point of 60.5% in 2020. Furthermore, individual participation in cultural and artistic events increased by 0.6 times in 2023 compared to the previous year.

Growth in Active Cultural Participation

In addition to the direct attendance rate, other indicators of active cultural participation, such as the participation rate in cultural and artistic events and the experience rate of cultural and artistic education, also showed positive growth. The participation rate in cultural and artistic events increased by 1.1% compared to the previous year, reaching 4.8%. Similarly, the experience rate of cultural and artistic education increased by 3.9%, reaching 8.5%.

Trends by Age and Field

Examining the attendance rate for cultural and artistic events by age group, it was found that the attendance rate among the elderly, particularly those aged 60 and above, significantly increased compared to the previous year. The attendance rate for those in their 60s increased by 7.7%, and for those aged 70 and above, it increased by 5.1%. In contrast, the attendance rate for those in their 20s and 30s decreased by 4% and 4.7%, respectively.

When considering attendance rates by field, movies had the highest attendance rate, followed by popular music and entertainment, visual arts, and musicals. Notably, the attendance rate for popular music and entertainment showed the largest increase compared to the previous year.

Positive Trends in Leisure Activities

The “2023 National Leisure Activities Survey” also revealed positive trends in leisure activities. The average number of leisure activities per person increased by 1.0 compared to the previous year, reaching 16.1. Additionally, the overall satisfaction with leisure activities increased by 4.1% compared to the previous year, reaching 60.7%, the highest since 2012.

Increase in Leisure Expenditure and Vacation Usage

As participation in leisure activities increased, the average monthly expenditure on leisure activities also increased by 25,000 won compared to the previous year, reaching 201,000 won. Furthermore, the “2023 Worker Vacation Survey” revealed insights into the vacation usage rate among workers. While the usage rate of annual leave for travel purposes increased, the usage rate for rest purposes decreased. The overall usage rate of annual leave increased by 0.1% compared to the previous year, reaching 76.2%.

Promising Outlook for Cultural and Leisure Activities

The survey results indicate a positive direction for the quantitative and qualitative recovery of cultural and leisure activities. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism plans to continue promoting policies to strengthen the foundation for cultural enjoyment and accelerate the recovery trend.

Overall, the “2023 National Cultural and Artistic Activities Survey” provides valuable insights into the recovery of cultural and artistic enjoyment among the Korean population and highlights areas that require further attention.