Visitors take in the Damien Hirst exhibition at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. [National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art]
Visitors take in the Damien Hirst exhibition at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. [National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art]

Seven in 10 South Koreans have increased their participation in cultural and arts activities since the government expanded its "Culture Day" program from a monthly to a weekly event.

According to a satisfaction survey on the expanded "Culture Wednesday" program released by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Wednesday, 71.1 percent of respondents said the initiative had led them to take part in cultural and arts activities more often.

Particularly notable was the finding that 60.3 percent of those who reported increased or maintained participation said they had not simply shifted existing cultural outings to Wednesdays — they had added new ones. The result suggests the program is expanding overall public engagement with the arts rather than merely redistributing existing demand.

Satisfaction with the policy was also high. Some 89.8 percent of respondents said they were satisfied with the program, while 91.1 percent said they intended to use it again and 91.8 percent said they would recommend it to others.

Among the factors driving satisfaction, discount benefits ranked highest at 27.8 percent, followed by the quality of programs and works (22.0 percent), free participation opportunities (21.9 percent) and access to cultural activities in nearby neighborhoods (17.1 percent).

The program also showed measurable effects in easing the barriers that most often prevent people from engaging in cultural life. Some 83.4 percent of respondents said it reduced their financial burden, 79.5 percent said it helped them find time for cultural activities, and 70.9 percent said it made it easier to enjoy culture close to home.

In addition, 90.1 percent of respondents said the Culture Wednesday expansion contributes to improving the overall level of cultural enjoyment among the public.

The ministry has been running the expanded program since April, broadening Culture Day from the last Wednesday of each month to every Wednesday.

The survey was conducted on June 24 and July 1 among 1,000 visitors who had experienced Culture Wednesday at six major national and public cultural facilities, including the National Museum of Korea and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art.

Kim Yong-seop, the ministry's director general for regional culture policy, said the survey results reaffirmed the effectiveness of the Culture Wednesday policy. "The ministry plans to continue developing the system so that people can enjoy culture more easily and joyfully in their everyday lives," he said.


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