SEOUL — Seoul residents are returning to theatres, galleries and concerts in growing numbers, spending more on cultural activities and diversifying the way they engage with the arts, according to new survey data released on Wednesday by the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture.

Neon-lit graphics reinterpret Seoul’s urban landscape at Delight Seoul 2025, a digital art exhibition running from May 8 to November 15 at Dohwaseogil D1 in central Seoul. The scene shown was part of a staged media preview held before opening to the public. —YONHAP Photo

In 2024, the average Seoulite spent 214,000 won (US$157) on arts and cultural experiences. Last year's figure is up 27 per cent from 2022, when pandemic-related restrictions still lingered. People also went out more often, attending an average of 7.2 events over the year, up from 4.6 two years earlier.

The foundation surveyed over 10,000 residents aged 15 and older for its latest biennial report, which tracks how citizens interact with the arts. The 2024 figures show that 76.1 per cent of people attended a cultural event in person, a full recovery to pre-COVID levels and slightly higher than 2018’s 75.6 per cent.

One of the biggest shifts is in what people are choosing to see. For the second time in the survey’s history, attendance at live performances and exhibitions has surpassed moviegoing. In 2024, 65.2 per cent of respondents said they visited a theater or gallery, while 47.9 per cent went to the movies. That’s a notable jump from 2022, when those numbers were 56.2 per cent and 48.4 per cent, respectively.

Digital consumption of culture is also on the rise. More than 8 in 10 people said they had accessed cultural content online in the past year, including films, dramas, animation, music, webtoons and novels. Most users (69 per cent) reported doing both online and offline cultural activities. Just 7 per cent said they stuck to in-person events only.

A hall at the Seoul Museum of History includes designated wheelchair seating at the rear of the auditorium. The space hosts barrier-free films on the fourth Thursday of each month from March through November. Photo courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government

Interest in AI-generated content is emerging, though opinions remain mixed. About 46 per cent of respondents said they would attend an AI-produced performance or exhibition, while 36 per cent said they’d pay for one. Roughly a third were undecided, and around 23 per cent ruled out participating entirely.

The survey also highlights persistent gaps in access. Among respondents with physical, hearing, or visual disabilities, 64.5 per cent said they had not attended any cultural event in the past year. That contrasts sharply with the 23.9 per cent of the general population who reported the same. Only 0.7 per cent of people with disabilities said they went to cultural events once a month or more, compared to 13.3 per cent of nondisabled respondents.

When asked what matters most in making cultural spaces accessible, 45 per cent of respondents with disabilities pointed to the ability to move freely through a venue without obstacles. — The Korea Herald/ANN