Culture Ministry recruits regional cultural halls for 10,000 won discounts

South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will begin accepting applications on Aug. 10 from cultural halls outside Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province for a 10,000 won on-site ticket-discount program.

The ministry said it would begin a second round on Sept. 1 with about 160,000 coupons worth 10,000 won each, while selected halls will apply the reductions through Nov. 30 to visitors who qualify for support.

The on-site scheme is intended to increase opportunities to attend performances outside the capital region and improve access for people who are not accustomed to online ticket reservations, the ministry said.

A ministry policy official said, "If local cultural halls actively participate in the on-site discount support program, local residents' opportunities to enjoy culture will expand further and it will help revitalize regional performances."

People aged 55 or older, people with disabilities, low-income people, farmers and fishers can receive the discount individually or in groups. Elementary, middle and high school students qualify only when attending in groups of at least 10.

Each hall can receive up to 10 million won, and support will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis until the 200 million won total is used.

The discounts cover paid plays and other performances directly organized by participating halls, but not rental productions or popular-music shows such as K-pop and trot.

To take part, a hall must register a government-supported discount category in its own ticketing system or an on-site ticketing system operated by a booking provider. Visitors must make a co-payment, and tickets must be issued electronically through the system when the discount is applied at the venue.

Regional first-round coupons are still available. The ministry launched the first round on May 22, distributing 240,000 10,000 won coupons through online booking providers and cultural halls outside the capital region. Nationwide coupons were exhausted after the final issue on July 31, but people can obtain up to two regional vouchers through Naver Reservation, Time Ticket or Ticketlink by Aug. 20 for performances scheduled through Sept. 3.