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Free museum entry, movie discounts for Culture Day to expand to every Wednesday from April

Published: 03 Mar. 2026, 15:53 Updated: 03 Mar. 2026, 17:35

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Museumgoers look at Daedongyeojido (Map of the Great East) at the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan District, central Seoul, on Feb.12. [NEWS1]

The government will expand its monthly cultural discount day from every last Wednesday to every Wednesday of the week.

The Cabinet on Tuesday voted for an amendment to the Framework Act on Culture, which will expand the so-called Culture Day from once a month to once every week, starting from April 1, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Culture Day is a government initiative that started in 2014, offering culture-related discounts, from discounted movie tickets to free museum admission. The program has shown tangible results, with the participation rate increasing from 28.4 percent in its first year to 66.3 percent in 2024.

The government plans to allow participating public and private organizations to determine their own discount offerings, according to the Culture Ministry. Private organizations may apply to join the program throughout the year.

The government hopes the expansion will help position the arts as part of everyday life rather than a special occasion. Local governments will also develop programs highlighting regional culture, including traditional crafts and hanok (traditional Korean house).

The program will also expand online, starting with reading-related events.

"The expansion of Culture Day will serve as the starting point for making the arts more accessible to the public," said Kim Yong-seop, a regional cultural policy officer from the ministry. "The ministry will work to improve the quality of life by broadening cultural access in partnership with the private sector."

BY LEE JI-WON [[email protected]]