Ministry of Culture Expands Ticket Discounts for Regional Arts Centers...Recruiting Participating Venues

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on August 6 that, together with the Arts Management Support Center and the Arts Council Korea, it will begin recruiting regional cultural arts centers outside the Seoul metropolitan area to participate in on-site discounts for the "2026 2nd Performing Arts Ticket Price Support Program" starting on August 10.

To expand public access to performing arts and revitalize the performing arts market, the ministry will distribute around 160,000 second-phase coupons for a 10,000 won discount on performance tickets beginning September 1. If there are remaining coupons from the first phase, they will be distributed together with the second-phase coupons.

The ministry distributed 240,000 first-phase discount coupons from May 22 through online ticketing sites and regional cultural arts centers outside the metropolitan area. First-phase coupons can be issued until August 20.

To implement the second phase of the support program, the ministry will accept applications from regional cultural arts centers outside the metropolitan area willing to participate in on-site discounts. The on-site discount initiative aims to reduce the cultural access gap between regions and to make it easier for the digitally vulnerable, who may not be familiar with online booking systems, to benefit from discounts. Eligible groups include seniors aged 55 and over, individuals with disabilities, low-income groups, farmers and fishers, as well as elementary, middle, and high school group audiences.

This recruitment targets cultural arts centers outside the Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi regions that host paid performances with ticket prices exceeding 10,000 won. Selected centers will offer a 10,000 won ticket discount per person to eligible visitors from September 1 to November 30.

Each cultural arts center can receive up to 10 million won in support. The total project budget is 200 million won and applications will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis until all funds are allocated. Centers wishing to participate should submit the application form and related documents via email to the Arts Management Support Center. Detailed participation procedures are available on the center’s website.

Among first-phase online coupons, those that could be used at performance venues nationwide were exhausted as of July 31. Regional-only coupons for venues outside the metropolitan area can still be issued, up to two per person, through three booking sites—Naver Reservation, Timeticket, and Ticketlink—until August 20. The coupons can be used for performances scheduled through September 3.

The first-phase on-site discount program for regional cultural arts centers will also continue through the end of August at six locations: Gyeongju Arts Center, Gimhae Arts and Sports Center, Dangjin Culture and Arts Center, Sejong Culture & Arts Center, Sejong Arts Center, and Changnyeong Culture & Arts Center.

A policy official from the ministry stated, "If regional cultural arts centers actively participate in the on-site discount support program, it will further expand local residents’ access to cultural experiences and help vitalize regional performances. The ministry will ensure thorough preparation of the 2nd Performing Arts Ticket Price Discount Support Program from September so that more people can enjoy arts and culture in their daily lives."

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