South Korea is expanding access to the arts for young adults, but critics question whether the program goes far enough. A new initiative, the Youth Culture and Arts Pass, will broaden its eligibility from 19-year-olds to include 20-year-olds starting in 2026, and will extend benefits to cover movies and books, in addition to performances and exhibitions.
A Limited Pass to Culture?
The program aims to foster lifelong cultural habits, but some argue its narrow scope misses the mark.
- Launched in March 2024 as a pilot project, the Youth Culture and Arts Pass initially provided 160,000 nineteen-year-olds with up to 150,000 won (approximately $115 USD) to spend on cultural experiences.
- While expansion is planned, the program’s age range remains limited, covering only a small fraction of the youth demographic defined by South Korean law (ages 19-34).
- Comparisons to similar programs in France, Italy, and Spain reveal broader age ranges and, in some cases, larger individual budgets.
- Concerns exist that the current support amount may not adequately cover the rising costs of popular cultural events, such as K-pop concerts.
- Despite some debate, the initiative is seen as a positive step toward encouraging young people to engage with the arts.
The Youth Culture and Arts Pass began as a pilot project on March 28, 2024, operating under the ‘Culture and Arts Promotion Act’ and the ‘Basic Youth Act’. Approximately 430,000 young people born in 2005 (age 19) were eligible, with 160,000 selected on a first-come, first-served basis to receive points worth up to 150,000 won for cultural events, according to a ‘Study on the Operation Plan of the Youth Culture and Arts Pass System’ published by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on December 31, 2025.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism explained that focusing on 19-year-olds aims to provide “pure cultural and artistic experiences at the age of 19, when people first enter society as adults after adolescence, to build cultural capital.” This approach mirrors similar initiatives in Europe, such as France, Italy, and Spain, which typically target individuals around the age of 18, coinciding with the transition before and after college entrance.
France’s ‘Pass Culture,’ launched in 2021, offers cultural vouchers to 18-year-olds for performances, exhibitions, books, and lessons. Initially valued at 300 euros per person, the individual limit was reduced to 150 euros starting March 1, 2025, due to budgetary concerns. France now supplements this with group program funding for youth aged 15 to 17 through schools.
Spain introduced ‘Bono Cultural Joven’ in 2022, providing an 18-year-old with a one-time 400-euro voucher. This is divided into 200 euros for live arts, 100 euros for cultural products like books and records, and 100 euros for streaming and digital content.
Italy reformed its system from ‘18app’ (500 euros for all 18-year-olds in 2016) to ‘Carta Cultura Giovani’ in 2024. The new system provides a 500-euro cultural card, but only to 18-year-olds with a household income index (ISEE) of 35,000 euros or less, focusing support on lower-income youth.
All three European countries offer one-time cultural vouchers to young adults around age 18, similar to Korea’s Youth Culture and Arts Pass. However, France and Spain extend support to younger age groups (15-17) through school programs, and the individual budgets range from 150 to 500 euros (approximately 220,000 to 740,000 won), exceeding Korea’s current offering.
The Arts Council of Korea explained that continuous support for those in their 19s and early 20s was considered but ultimately rejected due to budget limitations and concerns raised by the National Assembly about restricting benefits to a specific age group.
However, critics point out that the program’s scope is limited when considering the broader definition of “youth” in South Korea. The ‘Basic Act on Youth’ defines youth as individuals aged 19 to 34. The Youth Culture and Arts Pass currently benefits only those aged 19 (expanding to include 20-year-olds in 2026), representing just 1 to 2 years—or up to 30%—of the 16-year youth demographic.
Seoul offers a more comprehensive approach with its ‘Seoul Youth Culture Pass,’ providing young residents aged 20 to 23 (with income qualifications) with 200,000 won annually for performances and exhibitions. This project allows for re-application, removing the one-time limitation implemented at the national level. While the national pass is open to all eligible ages, the need for broader age eligibility remains.
The current support amount also appears somewhat disconnected from current trends in the cultural industry. As of the third quarter of 2025, the average price of a ticket for domestic performances (plays, musicals, classical music, and popular music) was 71,000 won, a 5% increase year-over-year, according to the Performing Arts Integrated Network.
The cost of attending popular K-pop concerts is even higher. Tickets for ENHYPEN’s ‘ENHYPEN WORLD TOUR ‘WALK THE LINE’: FINAL’ in October 2025 ranged from 165,000 won for regular seats to 253,000 won for meet-and-greet packages, representing a significant increase compared to the previous year. Even basic seats exceeded the 150,000 won limit of the pass.
Despite recent political and public debate surrounding cash support for young people—with some arguing it discourages work ethic or creates generational inequity—providing 150,000 won for cultural enjoyment is unlikely to diminish a young person’s drive, experts say.
The initiative is valuable in fostering “first experiences” with offline cultural spaces like theaters, performance halls, and bookstores for a generation accustomed to online content. The economic ripple effect—including spending at nearby restaurants and on transportation—could create a positive cycle beyond the initial support amount.
The core issue is that the current program remains a one-time event, rather than a foundation for building lifelong cultural engagement. A broader discussion is needed to redesign the target age and support scale, viewing adolescence as a continuous process.
