39-member presidential committee tasked with shaping K-culture policies, strengthening public-private collaboration
The Presidential Committee on Popular Culture Exchange, an advisory body operating directly under the president, got down to work with an inauguration ceremony Wednesday at Kintex in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. President Lee Jae Myung attended the event, touring a K-culture experience zone with the committee’s co-chairs, Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young and JYP Entertainment founder J.Y. Park, and delivering a congratulatory address.
Before his speech, Lee explored the exhibition, asking questions about K-pop trends and trying out merchandise such as photo cards and light sticks. He also posed for a photo with Park at a booth.
When Lee asked Park about Blackpink, Park described the quartet as a global girl group that had performed at Coachella in the US. He then emphasized the committee’s ambition: “Coachella is the world’s leading festival. Our goal at the Presidential Committee on Popular Culture Exchange is to create a festival that surpasses even Coachella,” Park said.
Shortly after, Lee addressed an audience of 270 guests. “As independence activist Kim Gu once envisioned, our culture — whether in music, film, video, games, or webtoons — has grown into a powerful medium that connects and resonates with people across the world. What is most Korean has become the most global. I hope Korea, through the power of its culture, will play a leading role in advancing world peace,” Lee said.
“The Popular Culture Exchange Committee will serve as a ‘one-team platform’ that brings together the policy capabilities of government ministries and the creativity and expertise of the private sector. I ask the committee to play a pivotal role as a bridge linking Korea with the world, fostering cultural exchange, expanding cooperation, and driving the growth of related industries,” he added.
Prior to the inaugural event, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced in the morning that the Presidential Committee on Popular Culture Exchange had launched with 26 private-sector members to help guide the nation’s pop culture policies.
The advisory body, operating directly under the president, was established under the Regulations on the Establishment and Operation of the Popular Culture Exchange Committee, which was approved by the Cabinet on Sept. 23 and took effect Sept. 25.
Members from the private sector include creators, producers, investors and academics from seven fields: popular music; gaming; webtoons and animation; film; food and beauty; and investment and policy.
Notable appointees include Hybe CEO Lee Jae-sang, YG Entertainment CEO Yang Min-suk, JYP Entertainment CEO Jung Wook, SM Entertainment CEO Jang Cheol-hyuk, Krafton CEO Kim Chang-han, Nexon Korea CEO Kang Dae-hyun, Naver Webtoon CEO Kim Jun-koo, CJ ENM CEO Yoon Sang-hyun and Contentree JoongAng CEO Hong Jeong-in.
The committee is co-chaired by Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young and JYP Entertainment founder and producer J.Y. Park. Government members include vice ministers from 10 related ministries and the senior secretary for social affairs at the presidential office. The initial committee comprises 39 members out of a total capacity of 50, with plans to expand private sector participation as needed to cover broader cultural and related industries.
“The Popular Culture Exchange Committee and the newly formed Cultural Arts Policy Advisory Committee are the two wings for achieving a K-culture market of 300 trillion won ($214 billion) and realizing our vision as a cultural powerhouse,” Chae said. “Through these committees, we will ensure that no sector is left behind and that policy advice and dialogue cover the entire cultural and artistic landscape.”
The Culture Ministry has also established the Ministerial Cultural Arts Policy Advisory Committee in parallel with the presidential committee to reflect diverse voices from the cultural sector in policymaking. The new advisory body will comprise approximately 90 experts across nine fields — including theater and musicals, classical and traditional music, dance, literature, visual arts, popular music, film and video, games and webtoons, and animation — with appointments to be announced this month.
The committee is expected to regularly discuss policy proposals and development strategies for the different sectors, building a robust cultural ecosystem and providing policy recommendations to realize Korea’s vision as a global cultural powerhouse.
