The Korean government will offer financial and logistics support to citizen-led culture clubs and encourage more people to participate in community culture programs to sustain the government-led “Culture Day” program.

The Culture Ministry announced Monday that it would channel some 1.8 billion won ($1.46 million) into encouraging the public to form and participate in local orchestras, ensembles and choir and art circles. This amounts to about 13 percent of the total budget for the 2016 “Culture Day” program.

“Drawing every citizen to participate in local culture activities is one of our major goals for this year’s ‘Culture Day’ program,” said Hong Sung-woon from the Presidential Committee for Cultural Enrichment, which is in charge of “Culture Day” programs.

In order to revitalize cultural activities in local communities, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will also facilitate art and music education in schools and on military bases by sending instructors and hosting public lectures.

“We believe that grassroots arts activities in communities will not only drive the ‘Culture Day’ program, but also serve as effective protection against economic and social risks. Local culture clubs will serve as valuable chains of human networks,” said Han Min-ho, director of the culture and leisure policy division of the ministry.

The “Culture Day” initiative began in 2014 to encourage Koreans to visit museums, attend concerts and performances more often and to expand cultural benefits to the wider public. It offers discounts of up to 50 percent on admission to museums, concert halls, movies and sporting events. It also hosts small and large concerts, performances and exhibitions on the last Wednesday of every month.

Highlights of the February programs include a cooking show featuring singer Sung Si-kyung, freelance chef and journalist Park Jun-woo, chef Nam Sung-ryeol and comedian Cho Se-ho. It will be broadcast at 4 p.m. on Wednesday on Naver TV Cast. Also offered is also a 30 percent discount on tickets for the musical “Turandot” at D Cube Art Center and musical “Aranga” at Chungmu Art Hall.

By Lee Woo-young (wylee@heraldcorp.com)