Lee Jae-myung, a candidate for the Democratic Party's presidential primary, unveiled his ambitious cultural and artistic pledges on April 18, 2025, during a visit to Daegu. He emphasized the vision of transforming South Korea into a "Global Soft Power Big 5" cultural powerhouse, highlighting the significance of cultural content as a key resource for soft power, job creation, and tourism.
During a meeting with webtoon creators and representatives from major entertainment companies like Netflix, Naver Webtoon, and Kakao Entertainment, Lee stated, "Cultural content may have been insignificant in the past, but it is now an important resource that determines a nation's soft power." He underscored that while South Korea possesses military and economic strength, true power lies in its culture.
Lee noted that culture fosters respect and understanding among people, saying, "While tens of millions of troops can fundamentally deter violent behavior, we respect each other, and this is the depth and inclusiveness of culture." He called for the government and politicians to ensure that cultural and artistic individuals are respected and can enjoy a high standard of living.
In his pledges, Lee promised to significantly increase the cultural and artistic budget, transforming creative activities into core professions and industries. He stated, "It is necessary to greatly increase the cultural and artistic budget to develop the work of cultural and artistic people into a core profession, not just creative activities." This aligns with his goal of fostering a stable ecosystem for artists.
Furthermore, Lee announced plans to expand cultural finance, which currently constitutes only 1.33% of the total national expenditure, to a level that reflects a culturally strong nation. He stated, "We will greatly increase this to match the standards of a cultural powerhouse." He aims to open an era with a market size of 300 trillion won and cultural exports of 50 trillion won by 2030.
Lee emphasized the importance of nurturing content creation platforms, promising to strengthen government support for all processes of K-content creation. "We will systematically support all stages from content production to global market entry and content distribution by fostering K-culture platforms," he explained.
In addition to enhancing production infrastructure, such as virtual studios necessary for video production, Lee highlighted the need for forward-looking incentives, including cultural arts research and development (R&D) and tax benefits. He stated, "We will support the sustainable growth of the K-content industry by expanding these incentives."
Particularly focused on the webtoon sector, Lee pledged to extend tax benefits applicable to video content to this industry, facilitating the overseas expansion of small and medium-sized enterprises through translation, distribution, and marketing.
Lee's visit to Daegu is also a strategic move to appeal to voters in the Yeongnam region, a traditional stronghold for the Democratic Party. He had visited the National Defense Science Research Institute in Daejeon the previous day to announce pledges related to the defense industry and balanced regional development.
During the meeting in Daegu, Lee expressed his admiration for the recent drama "Queen of Tears," noting its filming locations, including the Daegu Gyesan Catholic Church and Gasil Catholic Church. He remarked, "I feel even more grateful to see cultural and artistic people here in Daegu today."
As the primary race heats up, Lee will face off against fellow candidates Kim Kyung-soo and Kim Dong-yeon in a live broadcast debate on the evening of April 18, 2025. The debate, which will be aired on MBC, represents a critical moment as candidates articulate their visions and strategies for the future of South Korea.
Lee's cultural and artistic pledges are part of a broader strategy to position South Korea as a leader in the global cultural landscape. By focusing on the K-content industry and emphasizing the importance of culture in shaping national identity and soft power, Lee aims to resonate with voters who value cultural innovation and economic growth. As the election approaches, the impact of these pledges on public sentiment and the overall political landscape remains to be seen.
