"Culture Day" Expanded to Every Wednesday... Flood of Discounts on Performances and Exhibitions

Starting next month, large-scale discounts will be offered every Wednesday on cultural and artistic events such as musicals, plays, and exhibitions. This expansion is due to the full implementation of the amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the 'Basic Law on Culture,' which broadens the existing 'Culture Day'—introduced in 2014—from the last Wednesday of each month to every Wednesday. National cultural and arts organizations, including the National Theater Company of Korea and the National Jeongdong Theater, will also provide various discounts on Wednesday performances and exhibitions.

According to the performing arts industry on March 19, OD Company, a performance planning firm, will offer a 30% discount on S and A seats for the musical 'Death Note,' currently being performed at Charlotte Theater, every Wednesday. HJ Culture will provide a 35% discount on Wednesday performances of the play 'Unbenannt: The Last Memoir to Y,' while Live Company will offer a 20% discount on VIP seats and a 25% discount on R and S seats for Wednesday performances of the musical 'Fanletter.'

The National Theater Company of Korea will apply a 30% discount to the Wednesday, May 27 performance of the play 'Banya Ajae,' which runs from May 22 to 31. The National Jeongdong Theater will also offer a 30% discount on Wednesday performances of the traditional play 'Gwangdae,' which will run from April 3 to May 30. The National Ballet of Korea, Seoul Performing Arts Company, and the National Theater of Korea are also expected to participate in Wednesday performance discounts.

Kim Youngsoo, First Vice Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (fifth from right), delivers a greeting at the business agreement ceremony for the expansion of Culture Day held on the 18th at Art Korea Lab, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

In addition to discounts, a variety of educational and experiential programs will be provided. The National Museum of Korea will present 'Conversations with a Curator,' the National Library of Korea will host 'Monthly Encounters with Humanities,' and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art will offer educational programs linked to the special exhibition of Damien Hirst. Major national cultural institutions across the country plan to operate various programs every Wednesday to establish it as a 'Cultural Rest Day.' The National Museum of Cheongju has prepared the 'Rest (Hyu)geum Singing Bowl Meditation & Yoga Experience Program,' while the National Library of Sejong will offer wellness and humanities programs such as 'The Past and Present of Generative AI,' reflecting the latest cultural trends.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism believes that active participation from both the public and private sectors is essential for the successful establishment of Culture Day. On the previous day, it signed a 'Business Agreement for the Expansion of Culture Day' with 11 leading institutions representing the cultural, arts, and economic sectors at Art Korea Lab in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The agreement participants included the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Cultural City Council, National Association of Regional Cultural Foundations, Korea Federation of SMEs, Korean Library Association, Korea Mecenat Association, Korea Musical Theater Association, Korean Museum Association, Korea Association of Private Art Museums, Korea Federation of Bookstore Cooperatives, and the National Association of Regional Cultural Foundations.

The Korean Library Association, Korean Museum Association, and Korea Association of Private Art Museums announced that, in addition to their existing reading and experiential programs, they will expand opportunities to view exhibitions with expert commentary.

At the signing ceremony, Kim Youngsoo, First Vice Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, emphasized, "As it has been over ten years since the introduction of Culture Day, it is now time for a qualitative transformation." He added, "Active cooperation among the 11 participating institutions is necessary so that people can truly experience the benefits at cultural and artistic venues. I hope that Wednesdays will become established as days when people can freely enjoy performances, exhibitions, and sports events. I look forward to this year becoming the inaugural year in which the perception that 'Wednesday is Culture Day' firmly takes root."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.