By Mahnaz Abdi

South Korea’s blueprint for a cultural powerhouse; lessons and parallels for Iran

A strategic vision for national growth

TEHRAN- In a recent policy briefing to President Lee Jae Myung, the South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism unveiled an ambitious vision to transform Korean culture into a primary national economic engine. The core objective is to lay the groundwork for attracting 40 million annual foreign visitors, a significant leap from the 23 million expected this year. The vision, framed as "revitalizing regions and expanding into the world with K-culture, sports, and tourism," offers a compelling case study for nations like Iran, which possesses a rich cultural heritage but faces challenges in fully leveraging it for economic and soft power growth