Jang Seob Yoon
Research expert covering South Korea
Art and culture in South Korea - statistics & facts
The home of the global cultural phenomenon that is hallyu (the Korean wave) hopes to successfully bounce back from the setbacks it has suffered in recent years. After experiencing record low figures in 2020, attendance numbers have increased across several types of cultural activities. Nevertheless, most of the arts and culture industry remains in the shadow of South Korea's film industry. In recent times, South Korean author Han Kang's landmark achievement has led to a surge in demand for literature, and it remains to be seen whether this can ignite further interest in other cultural arts among consumers.
Museums and art galleries in South Korea
South Korea’s vibrant history is represented in various works of art that emerged over the years. The country has experienced steady growth in the number of domestic art galleries, with exhibitions even being held the halls of department stores like The Hyundai Seoul. Museums are an alternative location to display such items, with South Korea having various museums across the country. Such art and cultural activities seem to be an accessible source of entertainment, highlighted by the fact that younger generations are visiting museums more when comparing age groups. The same survey showed that the older the age group, the lower the tendency to attend museum exhibitions. The natural physical decline accompanying advancement in years is a possible factor behind such a trend, as well as a possibly lingering wearniness about crowded public spaces.Live music in South Korea
The global popularity of Korean pop music (K-pop) is now well-known. For music from the western side of the world, statistical developments in South Korea depict an intriguing status quo. A comparison between the number of western music performances in South Korea and its surveyed attendance rate shows a clear correlation. Between 2019 and 2020, performances decreased by around 38 percent; a government survey also depicts a decrease of a similar magnitude in the attendance rate of western music events. However, while the number of hosted events has climbed back up, the same cannot be said for attendance figures.Will digital media services take over cinemas?
While going to the cinema remains a popular cultural activity in South Korea, it has also suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic. Box office revenue plummeted as circumstances made it untenable to draw in a crowd of any sort. Although figures have already shown evidence of a recovery, it remains to be seen if the business can return to pre-pandemic levels, given the prevalence of online streaming in the modern market.
