K-Buzz

Seoul — On September 23, 2025, Jeong Cheong-rae made clear his intent to revive the film industry with on-site inspections in Busan.
He moved from a budget-policy meeting to a roundtable with industry representatives to hear their concerns.
He publicly promised to shore up revenue models shaken by the spread of OTT (over-the-top streaming) platforms.
The visit read as both fact-finding and a demonstration of policy intent.

Can Jeong Cheong-rae's Busan visit revive the film industry?

What the site visit signaled

He stood among the industry he aims to help.
On September 23, 2025, Jeong Cheong-rae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, held a budget-policy meeting and a film industry roundtable in Busan before visiting the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF).
He spoke directly with producers, directors, and festival organizers to see the challenges for himself.
Therefore, this was not just ceremonial; it should be read as a policy signal.

Background and history

It has been a long arc.
The Busan International Film Festival, founded in 1996, has been a major platform for Korean cinema and Asian film exchange.
Meanwhile, the rapid rise of global streaming platforms has shaken traditional production, distribution, and revenue models.
In particular, many local creators and artists struggle to secure fair compensation, which threatens the industry's sustainability.

Jeong's position

He expressed clear intent.
Drawing on his experience on the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, Jeong pledged a strong commitment to protect domestic creators' rights and to address unfair revenue allocation.
He said the government and ruling party would work to spark a renaissance in the film sector.
Consequently, his remarks implied possible policy interventions beyond mere encouragement.

In favor: why government support makes sense

It is necessary and defensible.
Active government support can pursue cultural promotion and regional economic benefits at once.
The film industry creates jobs and drives tourism and local spending.
However, the dominance of global streaming platforms has also caused revenue to flow overseas and created unfair splits that disadvantage local creators.
Jeong's statements help publicize these structural problems and push for institutional fixes.

Policy should move beyond short-term handouts and focus on restructuring revenue-sharing and building protective mechanisms.

Government funds should be designed to revive the production, distribution, and marketing ecosystem—not just provide temporary subsidies.
For example, co-production funds, production loan guarantees, and legal measures to ensure transparent copyright revenue splits could be effective.
Also, linking local film festivals to funding programs helps discover regional talent and supports balanced regional development.
Throughout, protecting creators' rights and ensuring fair revenue distribution must be a central principle.
From an industry perspective, public support can lower initial risks, encourage new projects, and boost global competitiveness.
Ultimately, the legitimacy of policy depends on delivering both cultural value and measurable economic impact.

Opposition: limits and risks

Caution is required.
On the other hand, state-led support has clear limits and risks.
First, concentrated spending on one sector can raise fairness concerns across arts and culture.
Second, if policy stops at short-term cash injections, it will not change underlying market dynamics.
Third, political visits and pledges may not translate into realistic, sustainable policies.
These critiques are reasonable from a skeptical viewpoint.

Watch closely whether political gestures convert into real industry restructuring.

OTT platforms and global media companies hold technical and capital advantages.
Simply regulating or shielding the local market could create new problems.
Therefore, the challenge is finding a balance that preserves market competition while supporting local creators and producers.
Transparent execution and monitoring are essential to avoid entrenching distorted structures or favoring particular groups.
Finally, if the political spotlight focuses more on image than substance, the original purpose can be lost.

Policy recommendations

Design for impact.
Policy should aim for long-term ecosystem recovery rather than short-lived relief.
First, strengthen legal and institutional frameworks to make revenue-sharing transparent.
Standardize tracking and distribution of copyright income and improve contract practices between platforms and producers.
Second, link finance to responsible investment models.
Production loan guarantees, co-production funds, and tax incentives can lower risks for new directors and independent producers.
Third, deepen ties between regional festivals and the industry to stimulate local creative energy.
Fourth, pursue public-private partnerships to secure global distribution channels.
For example, building international co-distribution networks and connecting to global funds can maximize content value.
Throughout, transparency, fairness, and sustainability should be the guiding policy principles.

Voices from the field

Listen to practitioners.
Industry stakeholders welcome government attention, but they will watch whether it leads to real change.
In some countries, production subsidies and tax incentives have helped long-term recovery.
Meanwhile, indiscriminate aid has sometimes distorted competition and increased dependence.
In Korea, quickly formalizing contract practices among creators, distributors, and platforms—and testing pilot projects with regional funding—would help demonstrate effective models.
Also, forming governance bodies that include industry stakeholders can improve fairness and expertise in policy execution.
These steps are essential if the effort is to move beyond a short-term political event toward sustainable industry development.

Summary and conclusion

Balance matters.
Jeong Cheong-rae's Busan visit successfully pushed the film industry's crisis onto the public agenda.
However, for the visit to produce lasting change, it must be followed by a concrete, actionable roadmap.
Policy should simultaneously protect creators' rights and strengthen market competitiveness, with clear, transparent implementation and monitoring.
In short, government support is necessary but its design and execution will determine success.
Which changes would you like to see first?