Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Announces 10 Billion Won Public Contest for 'Humanities and Spiritual Culture Expansion Project'

Six Projects Including 'Humanities on the Road' Open for Applications

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, together with the Korea Arts & Culture Education Service, will open a call for facilities, institutions, and organizations to participate in the '2025 Humanities and Spiritual Culture Social Expansion Project' from March 19 to April 7 through the 'National Culture and Arts Support System.'

The projects open for application include six categories: 'Humanities on the Road,' 'Wisdom School,' 'Youth Humanities Classroom,' 'Youth Humanities Experiment,' 'Middle-aged and Senior Youth Culture Space,' and 'Humanities Video Content,' with a total budget of approximately 10 billion KRW.

The Humanities and Spiritual Culture Social Expansion Project has previously conducted calls for each project throughout the year, but from this year, the process has been significantly improved through integrated calls. In particular, for the 'Youth Humanities Classroom' and 'Middle-aged and Senior Youth Culture Space' projects, the method of planning and operating programs through the main organizer or executing agency has been changed to selecting and supporting excellent programs directly planned by regional cultural foundations, public institutions, and others.

An incentive system for excellent cases (programs) has also been newly introduced. The top 20% of excellent cases (programs) based on evaluation results will receive continuous support the following year to ensure stable operation.

Education to strengthen the capabilities of humanities mediators has been newly established. Training courses on understanding humanities policies and methodologies for program planning and operation will be provided for mediators who connect the values contained in the humanities with the public, such as librarians and cultural facility workers, as well as humanities program instructors.

Additionally, new humanities projects contributing to solving social issues will be operated, including a humanities healing program for digitally addicted youth (800 million KRW), the Korean-style Clemente Course supporting positive life changes and rehabilitation/self-reliance for inmates and homeless people (500 million KRW), and a youth humanities classroom for young people residing in local areas (500 million KRW). The 'Life Sharing Classroom,' which contributes to intergenerational understanding, will be expanded to include content that promotes community understanding and social integration. The 'Humanities and Culture Festival,' first held in Seoul last September, is planned to be expanded and held in over 20 cities nationwide, including depopulated areas, from October to November this year.

To help understand this integrated call, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will hold online project briefings on the Korea Arts & Culture Education Service's official YouTube channel on the 18th and 20th. The final selection results will be announced at the end of April. The announcement can be checked on the Korea Arts & Culture Education Service website starting from the morning of the 14th.

Lee Jung-woo, Director of the Culture and Arts Policy Office at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated, "To alleviate social issues we face such as concerns about humanity due to technological advancements represented by artificial intelligence (AI), deepening isolation, and declining quality of life, it is important to spread humanities values that contain insight and imagination about humans and life." He added, "We hope that the newly launched humanities projects this year will contribute to making people's lives happier and enhancing the dignity of our society."