The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister CHAE Hwi-young, MCST), together with the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (President PARK Chang-sik, KOFICE), will fully launch the “K-Culture Youth Global Frontier” program to cultivate future talent in international cultural exchange who will lead the global expansion of K-Culture.

Launched for the first time this year, the K-Culture Youth Global Frontier program helps young people develop a global perspective and on-the-ground capabilities by planning and carrying out international cultural exchange projects themselves or by gaining hands-on experience at cultural institutions abroad. This year, approximately 700 young people will be dispatched to 36 countries worldwide.

Two Tracks: Self-Directed Planning and Work Experience

The program is divided into two tracks according to the mode of activity: the self-directed planning track and work experience track. In the self-directed planning track, young people plan and carry out K-Culture-based international cultural exchange projects across various fields, including performing arts, visual arts, webtoons, animation, literature, architecture, and beauty and fashion. In collaboration with universities and regional cultural foundations, young artists and other participants will engage with their peers abroad and present creative works that combine local cultural and artistic assets with their creativity.

The work experience track allows participants to gain first-hand experience in international cultural exchange at cultural institutions abroad, including Korean Cultural Centers, KOCCA Business Centers, the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) overseas offices, and King Sejong Institutes. Participants will build practical, on-site capabilities in international cultural exchange by supporting the operation of cultural events, planning and producing K-Culture promotional content, and carrying out various tasks such as translation and public relations.

Support for Youth-Planned K-Culture Projects, Beginning with the Seoul Institute of the Arts

The Seoul Institute of the Arts, selected as one of the program’s implementing organizations, will take part in Indonesia’s “Bali Arts Festival” this week to present Bongsan Talchum (Mask Dance Drama of Bongsan), a traditional Korean performance. It will also premiere a co-created performance that blends Bongsan Talchum with Kecak, a signature performing art of Bali, Indonesia, and will present visual art and music works produced in collaboration with local young artists.

Starting July 9, Sangmyung University will run a webtoon creation workshop and exhibition program together with Thailand’s Ministry of Culture and Webtoon Academy Thailand, followed by a joint webtoon creation program in Indonesia with local webtoon platforms and young creators. Beginning August 23, the Chuncheon Cultural Foundation will carry out a joint creative project in the visual arts with young creators in Hong Kong, holding local showcases and an academic conference to build a new model of international cultural exchange based on K-Culture.

Work experience track participants will be dispatched sequentially to cultural institutions abroad according to each country’s schedule, beginning with the Korean Cultural Center in Sweden in July, to support on-site activities overseas.

Comprehensive Support for Safe Overseas Activities and Sharing of Outcomes

To ensure safe and stable overseas activities, the MCST plans to cover necessary expenses, including airfare, living costs, and insurance, and to help participants adjust to their local environments through preliminary training and safety management. After the dispatch period ends, the Ministry will identify and share best practices and actively apply them to its international cultural exchange policies.

An MCST policy official said, “We expect that the experience and international networks that young people build on the ground overseas through the K-Culture Youth Global Frontier program will become future assets that drive the growth of K-Culture.” The official added, “The MCST will continue to expand on-site exchange opportunities so that young people can gain diverse experiences around the world through K-Culture.”