Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism for Culture and Arts Policy Yu Byungchae (second from left) on Aug. 26 explains the direction of Korean cultural policy at a culture ministers' meeting of the Group of 20 economies at Taj Ganges Hotel in Varanasi, India.

By Charles Audouin
Photos = Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Aug. 27 said it explained the day before the direction of the government's cultural policy at a culture ministers' meeting of the Group of 20 (G20) economies at Taj Ganges Hotel in Varanasi, India.

At the conference, the ministry shared examples of outstanding case studies of culture-promoting policy such as development of content professionals, provision of record-high financial support, stronger copyright protection for content creators and preferential purchasing of works by disabled artists.

The ministry also emphasized the importance of cultural exchange for building relations of understanding and trust among countries, pledging to share and practice through culture universal human values such as freedom and solidarity with the international community.

Each of the attending ministers shared their respective government's policy and discussed methods of cooperation in topics like protection and return of cultural heritage; use of living cultural legacy for a sustainable future; stimulation of the creative culture industry and creative economy; and application of digital technology for the promotion and protection of culture.

The results were adopted in a chairman's statement released by the chair country India. 

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism for Culture and Arts Policy Yu Byungchae (left) on Aug. 26 attends a meeting with Indian Ministry of Culture Secretary Shri Govind Mohan after the G20 culture ministers' meeting in Varanasi, India, on expanding bilateral cultural exchanges.

After the conference, Deputy Minister Yu held a bilateral meeting with Indian Ministry of Culture Secretary Shri Govind Mohan on expanding cultural exchange between the two countries.

"Based on K-Culture, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will continue raising cooperation with the international community and people around the world," the deputy minister said. "We plan this year to expand cultural events with India to mark the 50th anniversary of bilateral ties and open a content business center in New Delhi to expand the horizons for bilateral exchange."

caudouin@korea.kr