Dear Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism family and my fellow colleagues,

 

The year 2024, Gapjin (甲辰年), has dawned.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to each one of you for your unwavering dedication amid the challenges of the past year. 

Marking the Year of Dragon, represented as a sacred creature, May the Year of the Blue Dragon bring you good health and prosperity.

 

Having engaged with field officials since my return to the MCST last October,

it’s time to envision the future and chart our course by paying close attention to how the field has developed and functioned and considering what policies are needed.

 

With the new year upon us,

it’s time to address the issues I’ve encountered during my exploration of the field over the past three months.

 

As mentioned in my inaugural speech, the MCST’s primary purpose is safeguarding creators.

We need to develop a more comprehensive strategy and systematically plan, producing rules that genuinely benefit those on the field.

 

Taking into account the opinions on the field, the MCST has established an extensive framework of policies in the domains of culture, art, content, sports, and tourism.

We are fully committed to doing our best to bring these policies to life for the welfare of the people and field officials.

 

We have introduced “Three Major Innovation Strategies for Culture and Arts,” which enabled all citizens to enjoy and bask in world-class art from anywhere in the country.

 

In addition, in response to the surge in global online video services (over-the-top, OTT) and the era of content competition worldwide, we have launched “Video Industry Leapfrog Strategies.”

 

The largest-ever policy funding of KRW 1.74 trillion, along with a raised tax credit rate of up to 30% for video content production expenditures, will significantly encourage our creators to generate more competitive content in the global market.

 

To solidify our status as a copyright powerhouse, we will address copyright blind spots and establish preemptive copyright standards suited for the era of artificial intelligence in 2024.

 

In pursuit of the “Realization of Healthy and Happy Korea, the Whole Nation’s Sports Participation,” our goal is to achieve 70% daily sports participation by 2028, create seven major sports powerhouses (G7), and surpass KRW 105 trillion in the domestic sports market.

 

We will increase the number of national sports centers tailored to each region and generation, raise the number of vouchers for sports lecture opportunities, support regular and after-school sports activities, and assist the sports industry and elite athletes.

 

Furthermore, we will implement the Korea Tourism Export Innovation Strategy, which seeks to attract 20 million international tourists and generate USD 24.5 billion in tourism revenue by 2024.

 

We are also fully committed to holding mega-events and marketing for the success of “Visit Korea Year 2024”, taking the lead in welcoming the era of local tourism through efforts such as fostering global festivals, promoting bicycle travel nationwide, and showcasing walking tours.

 

2024 will be an exciting year, with every corner of each region and the entire country buzzing with culture.

 

As a start, we will thoroughly prepare for the “Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games,” happening in Gangwon State from January 19 to February 1, which is poised to become a sports and cultural festival for teenagers around the world.

 

We expect a diverse array of colorful and rich festivals in the fields of culture, art, content, physical education, and tourism.

The 2024 Paris Olympics also presents an opportunity for people to become one through sports, with the essence of our culture resonating globally.

 

Careful planning and persistent efforts are crucial to leverage the positive strides we made in the past year as stepping stones for another leap forward.

 

If all members of the MCST family unite, brainstorm innovative ideas, and collaborate to bring them to life, our culture, sports, and tourism will undoubtedly reach new heights.

 

To safeguard the pride of creators and field experts, we must also foster an excellent environment with confidence.

 

Let’s move forward without hesitation, ensuring that the essence of culture permeates people’s lives in the new year.

 

Thank you.