The Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture (SFAC) has released the results of its ‘2024 Survey on Cultural Engagement of Seoul Citizens,’ conducted with 10,024 residents. According to the findings, average annual per capita spending on culture reached 214,000 KRW, marking a steady increase from 168,000 KRW in 2022.
 
The average number of cultural and arts events attended per person also rose to 7.2 times per year, a 1.5-fold increase from 4.6 times two years ago. The cultural participation rate reached 76.1%, effectively returning to the pre-pandemic level of 75.6% recorded in 2018. 

The results suggest a strong recovery in cultural and arts engagement among Seoul citizens, surpassing pre-COVID-19 levels. The data also indicates a diversification of audience preferences, with attendance shifting beyond film to include more performing arts and exhibitions.

In the previous survey, for the first time, attendance at performing arts and exhibitions (56.2%) surpassed that of film (48.4%). This trend has continued, with the latest findings showing 65.2% of respondents attending performances or exhibitions, compared to 47.9% for films—a widening gap.
 
This shift is attributed to the rise of OTT streaming services, which have reduced cinema attendance, while offline-based performances and exhibitions remain irreplaceable experiences. The increase in demand for fine arts is also linked to heightened cultural appetite post-pandemic and a broader range of available content.
 
This year’s survey also expanded its focus on "culturally marginalized" groups, increasing the sample of people with physical, hearing, or visual disabilities from 313 to 755 for more detailed analysis. The findings revealed that cultural participation among people with disabilities remains significantly lower than that of the general population.
 
When asked about priorities for creating barrier-free cultural facilities, responses varied depending on disability type. However, a common demand across all groups was for improved "accessibility" (45.3%)—environments that allow for unobstructed movement.

Notably, this year’s survey included, for the first time, in-depth research and analysis on individuals at high risk of loneliness and social isolation, examining the impact of arts and culture on emotional well-being. The cultural participation rate among these high-risk groups was significantly lower than average. Among those identified as socially isolated, 41.2% had no experience of attending cultural or artistic events, while 24.5% of those classified as highly lonely also reported no such experiences.
 
Based on these findings, the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture plans to incorporate the increasingly diverse cultural engagement patterns of Seoul citizens into future arts and cultural policies. The foundation emphasized that arts and culture should be recognized not merely as leisure activities but as tools with potential to address broader social issues, and that this perspective should be actively reflected in policy implementation.
 
The full survey report is available on the foundation’s website at www.sfac.or.kr.

References

• 서울문화재단 보도자료 (Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture Press Release)