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By Bae Eun-joo
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South Korea undoubtedly has not escaped the impact of the novel coronavirus crisis with the Ministry of Employment and Labor announcing May 11 that the payment of unemployment benefits had soared to nearly 1 trillion won ($820 million) in April, a record disbursement for jobseekers. The ministry said that 129,000 people applied for jobseekers' allowances that month, up 33 percent from a year ago, suggesting that most people have been affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Among the 129,000 new beneficiaries, the self-employed, freelancers, workers in special employment such as home study teachers or translators, and artists were not eligible for unemployment payments as they are not covered by the state's insurance program. The government states "difficulty to manage their workplaces and the state of their qualifications as regards the insured" as reasons for their exclusion. Unemployment benefits for jobseekers are paid from unemployment insurance funds
However, this discriminating policy against workers in certain fields of society is about to change after President Moon Jae-in pledged to expand unemployment insurance, as part of his efforts to ramp up employment support programs, in an address marking his three years in office, May 10. Now, artists are to be included among unemployment insurance subscribers. Since the National Assembly passed the legislation Wednesday, they will be able to receive a monthly payment of 500,000 won for a maximum period of six months.
The proposal was initiated by the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) to help artists continue their creative activities without financial strain after director Bong Joon-ho grabbed top honors with his film "Parasite" at this year's Academy Awards in February. The DPK envisioned a Korean version of France's "intermittents," a reference to people who receive "intermittents du spectacle" ― a program France has run since 1936 to support professionals in the culture sector during periods of unemployment. They include festival performers, creators, comedians, filmmakers, dancers and set designers.
They benefit from a special unemployment insurance plan that guarantees artists a monthly stipend paid by the government on the basis of 507 working hours over a 12-month period.
Whilst the economic downturn from the coronavirus crisis seems to be persisting and much of the arts industry remains closed for the time being, French President Emmanuel Macron declared an emergency plan to save France's cultural sector earlier this month. He promised that his government would not abandon the industry and laid out steps to support it throughout the crisis by prolonging financial support for "intermittent" artists, making authors eligible for the solidarity fund for the self-employed, and guaranteeing bank loans for small festival organizers and filmmakers.
Extending state support for intermittents until August 2021, Macron said that this was a time to "revolutionize" access to culture and the arts, paving the way to merging artists with schools where they could find work and contribute to educating children.
The United States Congress passed a $2 trillion stimulus package in March as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, handing out $1,200 checks to many Americans. Unlike unemployment benefits in the past, the bill is considered unprecedented in terms of the scope of the benefits as it now made it possible for artists and freelancers to apply for government assistance even if they didn't have an employer who paid unemployment subscriptions on their behalf. Gig-workers, the self-employed and others who have non-traditional means of income are all permitted to claim government assistance.
The world is struggling to survive amid unshakable fears of a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and a worsening economic recession. Nonetheless, we must not fail to uphold and support the intrinsic value of arts and culture to society. The creative endeavors and disciplines artists generate to enrich people's lives can only continue as long as governments provide them with financial stability and emotional support. Especially during the coronavirus crisis, the arts serve as an important pillar for our physical and mental exhaustion. That is why we cherish artists.
