Artists made less income from their creative works last year than in 2006, and three out of 10 couldn't make any money at all, a government survey showed Monday.
According to the survey of 2,000 artists by Korea Culture & Tourism Institute, a research arm of the culture ministry, 37.4 percent of the respondents said their works drew zero income last year, up from 26.6 percent in 2006.
The respondents spanned the arts ranging from writers, painters, photographers and architects, to performers of traditional Korean and classical music, choreographers, filmmakers and actors.
Those who said their average monthly income was less than 1 million won (US$ 870) accounted for 25.4 percent, compared to 28.4 percent in 2006.
Higher income brackets with more than 2 million won a month made up 20.2 percent, down from 23.4 percent.
Most of the artists appeared to have side jobs or live on their spouses' income, as 37.8 percent said their household monthly income was more than 4 million won, followed by 30.8 percent with 2 million to 3 million won.
About 59.3 percent said they still love their profession, but only a handful of them, 9.6 percent, were satisfied with the government's culture and arts policy.
According to a government report released in December, employed South Koreans earned an average of 2 million won per month in 2008 and worked 49.3 hours a week. (PNA/Yonhap)
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