Main aims:
Strengthening cultural diversity through an exchange of cultural activities, goods and services that is easier, more intense and more stable for both sides - Korea and the EU - including in the growing audiovisual sector as well as through improved framework conditions
The Protocol on Cultural Cooperation in the free trade agreement (FTA) between the European Union and its member states on one side and the Republic of Korea on the other covers the following priorities: strengthening cultural diversity through support for audiovisual works; expanding the reach of European films in Korea and Korean films to an EU audience and growing their respective market shares; facilitating the exchange of cultural activities, goods and services, including in the audiovisual sector, and improving the conditions of such exchange; creating an environment conducive to international co-productions between European and Korean partners, in particular through exchange of information, market access and further training, networking days and workshops.
The free trade agreement was concluded in 2010 and entered into force in 2011. The accompanying Protocol on Cultural Cooperation covers the cultural and creative industries and co-productions in the audiovisual sector and has been in force since 2015. Co-production agreements have been adopted for the periods 2011 to 2014, 2014 to 2017 and currently for 2017 to 2020.
Target groups:
European and international - here: Korean - co-production partners in the audiovisual sector and further fields of the culture and creative industries
Expected results:
Expanding the reach of European films in Korea and Korean films to an EU audience and growing their respective market shares; strengthening artistic presence from Korea and Europe through residency programmes and important fairs; compiling joint statistical studies on the fields of the cultural and creative industries, in particular on virtual reality and animation
Four sessions held from 2016-2019 on the basis of the protocol adopted in 2015; Korean artists participated in projects associated with the EU Creative Europe programme and stage events and festivals in Europe, in part with the help of Korean support; European artists participated in the annual Performing Arts Market in Seoul, in 2018 five workshops held with the European Union as guest of honour, one EU music night and speed dating programmes
In the field of audiovisual co-productions primarily bilateral projects carried out thus far. The extension of the protocol until 2023 was decided in 2020.
For co-productions, producers are obliged to make a contribution of their own of 10% of the total budget of the production; this is often covered by national film funding
| Name of partner | Type of entity |
|---|---|
EU and Republic of Korea advisory groups on audiovisual media
| Public Sector
|
Korean Arts Council
| Public Sector
|
Measures are based on studies and data from the European Audiovisual Observatory which show that a larger audience was reached through co-productions; from 2016 to 2017, films produced in the EU reached a market share of 5% of Korean cinema audiences and 20% of releases; the total number of visitors to Korean cinemas has risen by 41% since 2011; Korean films achieved an EU market share of 1% of audiences and 2% of releases