Latest news with #ChoungByoung-gug
Korea Herald
12-02-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Art spending by private foundations tops W1tr
Corporate-run culture foundations in South Korea spent more than one trillion won ($689 million) over the last decade to promote arts and culture, according to the latest Arts Council Korea data. The agency run by the Culture Ministry found that 112 firms spent 2.3 trillion on various public projects from 2014-2023. Half the funds, or 1.1 trillion won, went to advancing arts and culture. In 2023, when the number of corporate-run arts and culture foundations reached 112, their sponsorship of arts and culture totaled more than 182.4 billion won. The CJ Cultural Foundation contributed the most to advancing arts and culture, according to Arts Council Korea. The council scored companies on the total amount spent, transparency in execution and concrete results among other metrics that looked into whether the foundations practiced the latest environmental, social and governance principles. The Daelim Cultural Foundation came in second, followed by the Samsung Foundation of Culture, the Paradise Cultural Foundation and the Hansol Culture Foundation -- all cultural arms of Korean conglomerates. Smaller company contributions were led by the Smilegate Foundation, the Woojin Culture Foundation, the United Foundation and the Junglim Architecture Foundation. Arts Council Korea noted that businesses' interest in promoting the arts remains weak. Only 32 out of Korea's 88 leading companies have set up culture foundations, the agency said, pointing out that a 36 percent participation rate does not match Korea's rising global profile as a culture powerhouse. 'Companies can take on initiatives themselves promoting art projects, but public projects led by their culture arms like foundations lead to lasting impact,' said Choung Byoung-gug, the agency chairperson. 'We will do our part to make it easier for companies to launch culture foundations,' Choung added. Choung believed Korean content may be gaining global popularity because the government has earmarked dedicated funds to foster cultural content. It is now time for private companies to come forward, according to Choung. 'Take for example, Hermes and Louis Vuitton,' he said, adding, 'The French luxury houses are active in expanding cultural outreach through foundations they run.'
Korea Herald
05-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Arts Council Korea launches integrated platform for arts
The website offers services in four languages Arts Council Korea has launched a new platform, integrating five websites run by the government's funding agency for the arts and non-profit organizations. The website directly links those accessing it to a variety of sites, including Arko's website, Arko arts archives, a digital archive of Korean art and a public art portal. The website is also available in Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese. 'We brought all the programs together on a single platform as people had difficulty locating the scattered information. We will announce notices or competitions so that artists can easily access such information and have an opportunity to expand their artistic career," said Choung Byoung-gug, chairperson of Arko. Arko operates a total of 25 websites, five of which were integrated into the new platform, according to the organization. Arko, the largest funding agency for arts, is governed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and is the commissioner for the Korean Pavilion at the Venice Biennale.
