Lee calls for expanded support to make Korea "global cultural powerhouse"

President Lee Jae Myung has invited leading cultural figures to his office to hear their voices on ways to support them, and promote Korea as a "global cultural powerhouse."

There, he called for the need to significantly expand support for artists.

Our top office correspondent Yoon Jung-min reports.

A power that is soft, but strong.

The message was prominent as President Lee Jae Myung hosted leading figures in the cultural sector at the presidential office on Monday, given the impact of culture on the economy and beyond borders.

"As I watched 'When Life Gives You Tangerines,' I thought if we raise this as an industry, it could be a crucial opportunity for the Republic of Korea to shine on the global stage. Korea can become a powerhouse if we promote it overseas and enhance our cultural power."

For that, he urged the need to significantly increase investment and support for the culture industry.

Along with first lady Kim Hea Kyung, among those invited were musical writer Park Chun-hue who wrote Tony award-winning "Maybe Happy Ending," renowned soprano Jo Sumi , and 16-year-old ballerino Park Youn-jae.

Also present were Kim Won-suk, director of the Netflix hit drama "When Life Gives You Tangerines" and Heo Ga-young, who recently won first prize in the La Cinef section at the Cannes for her short film "First Summer."

"As for the performance industry, we need more exchanges with local experts overseas. I ask for policies to help invite overseas experts here for cooperation, or artists here going abroad."

The roundtable focused on hearing from artists themselves, as the president often emphasizes the need to listen to voices on the ground to devise tailored policies from their point of view, though he did pitch his suggestion based on his administrative experience as a governor.

"We should see it as a kind of investment that enhances the level of our society as a whole, and need to introduce a sort of basic income for artists."

This is in line with Lee's pledges in his inaugural speech, when he vowed to make Korea one of the top five cultural powerhouses in the world, as he quoted a famous phrase by independence activist Kim Gu, who wished for "the power of a high culture."

The meeting took place amid growing recognition of Korean culture on the global stage. What lies ahead is how to materialize what's been discussed to actually support artists.

Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News.