‘Gwangju GCC Sagwanhakgyo’ Cultural Content Talent Development Hub

132 Graduates in 1st Cohort... 19 Employed, 88 Internships
Training Practical Talent Through Combined Theory and Practice

Gwangju Mayor Kang Ki-jung attended the 'GCC Officer School 1st Graduation Ceremony' held on the afternoon of the 19th at the Gwangju Real Content Cube (GCC) in Nam-gu, where he presented certificates of completion and took a commemorative photo with Lee Kyung-joo, Director of the Gwangju Information and Culture Industry Promotion Agency, and the trainees. Provided by Gwangju City

Gwangju GCC Officer School is establishing itself as a cradle for nurturing talent in the cultural content field.

On the 19th, Gwangju City held the ‘GCC Officer School 1st Graduation Ceremony’ at the Gwangju Realistic Content Cube (GCC) VX Studio.

The event was attended by Mayor Kang Gi-jung, Lee Kyung-joo, Director of the Gwangju Information and Culture Industry Promotion Agency, Shin Chang-hwan, President of the Korea Animation Producers Association, Kim Nam-hee, Vice President of the Korea Animation Industry Association, Seo Beom-gang, President of the Korea Webtoon Industry Association, and representatives of cultural content companies.

The GCC Officer School is a project by Gwangju City aimed at completing a solid talent development ladder from the roots to experts in the cultural content field. It was established to cultivate practical talents who can be immediately deployed in the field at companies in content sectors such as games, animation, webtoons, and realistic content.

The city not only provides free education so that students can learn without economic burden but also supports transportation and meal expenses and offers dormitories for trainees from other regions to encourage youth participation.

As a result of recruiting the first applicants in January this year, 391 people applied, showing a competition rate of 2.6 to 1. The first batch of trainees enrolled 173 students who underwent a systematic 1,200-hour education course over eight months, including basic courses, intermediate and advanced courses, makerthon, and team projects, among whom 132 graduated.

Nineteen of the first batch of trainees have succeeded in employment and are actively working in practical fields, while 88 have been participating in corporate projects (internships) at 26 companies for eight weeks since last month.

The GCC Officer School’s education program, which combines theory and practice, has been highly effective in producing practical talents. By carrying out project-centered tasks similar to corporate work, it provided opportunities to develop strategic thinking and collaborative problem-solving skills.

At the graduation ceremony, along with an exhibition sharing the trainees’ achievements over eight months, job linkage programs such as recruitment briefings and employment/startup matching booths were also held.

Mayor Kang personally visited the exhibition to review works in realistic content, webtoons, and animation, and encouraged the trainees who successfully completed the year-long GCC Officer School course.

Mayor Kang said, “I support the limitless growth of GCC Officer School students, who are well-prepared cultural content talents through various projects and practical experiences,” and added, “Please take the lead as Gwangju moves forward as South Korea’s AI×Culture hub city.”