Minister of Culture Yu In-Chon will speak at the seminar on Wednesday where he founded the Popular Culture Hall of Fame at the Press Centre in central Seoul. Courtesy of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
Lee Gyu-lee
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is working with people from the entertainment industry, from actors and singers to audio artists and comedians, to create Korea’s first official pop culture hall of fame.
The Hall of Fame is a memorial space covering all areas of Korean popular culture, serving as a comprehensive facility for archiving teaching materials, providing education and creating a memorial for artists who have contributed to the country’s global cultural influence.
A private committee was launched last month to support this initiative. It consisted of 27 notable figures from a variety of entertainment fields, including actors Yoo Dong-Gen, Lee Jung-Jia-Ae, singer Rain and comedian Shin Dong Dong Yup. From March to August, the ministry holds monthly seminars, gathering feedback and ideas from industry experts and popular artists on whether it’s best to develop a hall of fame.
“The idea was first proposed 17 years ago, but it didn’t come to fruition back then. But now the cultural environment has evolved dramatically, and the global perception and value of Korean pop culture has grown significantly.
“Pop culture is currently at the forefront of raising our country’s status and spreading culture around the world. It’s very important to keep track of things well and preserved.
Actor Yoo Dong-Geun will speak at a popular culture hall of fame seminar held at the Press Center in Central Seoul on Wednesday. Yonghap
Noting his experiences encountering artists from Western countries, the Minister shared that the quality of life and job satisfaction of local artists should reflect the growing reputation of Korean pop culture.
“We are roughly comparable to countries like the US and Europe, so I think we should provide treatment, compensation and living conditions to artists that fit that level. I hope this project will provide hope to many popular culture artists working in this industry,” he said.
At the seminar, Choi Ji-young, a senior researcher at the Korean Institute of Culture and Tourism (KCTI), emphasized the role of the Hall of Fame in strengthening national pride and cultural diplomacy. She explained that as the country’s pop culture is gaining increasing global attention, this is a critical time to maintain its history and reassess the public’s scrutiny of artists, highlighting the prominent uplift of pop culture could lead to the growth of the country’s economy and tourism.
“I believe that treating pop culture artists in our country with respect will give them the same level of respect overseas. I think the Hall of Fame should play a role in lifting their position by dispelling various biases and disparaging views about artists,” Choi said.
Actor Jong Joo-won-ho, a member of the private committee promoting the proposed pop culture hall of fame, will speak at a seminar at the press centre in central Seoul on Wednesday. Yonghap
On behalf of the actor, Yu pointed out that the project should be guided by the government to preserve iconic values as a hall of fame.
“Many people may argue that given the high income artists should fund it themselves. But the personally funded memorial is memorial that lacks national and historical importance,” he said. “Pop culture retains an intangible heritage and historical value that demands official recognition through the official hall of fame.”
Other members of the committee, including actors Jong Bo Seog and Shin Hyun-joon and singer Nam Jin, expressed the need for the project during the roundtable discussion.
“We believe that we should create spaces worthy of cultural powers and increase our country’s cultural competitiveness,” Jung said. “If a Hall of Fame is created, it will enhance the pride of artists and will continue to revive the waves of ‘hallyu’ or South Korea. ”
Nam said, “I hope that the establishment of the Hall of Fame is not just a slogan or thought, but a space to travel with people.”
