President Lee says K-culture's potential is far from exhausted

President Lee Jae Myung, who has long highlighted the borderless power of culture, appeared on a special Arirang TV program and vowed more government support and investment in culture.

Our top office correspondent Song Yoo-jin reports.

Wearing a sky-blue jacket instead of his usual dark suit, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday joined a star-studded panel on Arirang TV's special program, "K-Pop: The Next Chapter."

The President was joined by Maggie Kang, writer and director of the Netflix hit "KPop Demon Hunters," girl group TWICE members Jihyo and Jeongyeon, producer R.Tee, and music critic Kim Young-dae to discuss the future of K-pop, and, more broadly, the K-culture industry.

Reflecting on the global boom in Korean culture, President Lee emphasized that its potential is far from exhausted.

"How far do you think South Korea has come as a cultural heavyweight?"

"Korea is on its way to becoming one. What is most Korean can also be the most global. We should have confidence in that."

For that to happen, the President underscored the need for a solid support system, pointing out that government investment in culture has been lacking for decades.

"The fact that we've seen such great works and artists like these people is extraordinary, almost miraculous. But the government must take the long view, nurturing the cultural industry and investing heavily in its foundations, so that more people can challenge themselves, learn, and discover their talents."

At the same time, he also reaffirmed his administration's principle of supporting without interference.

"Culture thrives on freedom. It must be individual, creative, and independent. Yet we've seen blacklists, surveillance, or regulation stifling the arts. The government's role is to create a free environment, provide support, and allow competition to develop new frontiers."

The hour-long program explored ways to further expand the global reach of Korean culture.

Panelists suggested creating arena-style performance venues and more opportunities to showcase not only K-pop, but a wider range of genres.

Building on this, the Lee administration aims to position South Korea as one of the world's leading cultural powerhouses.

Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News.