Ministry of Culture to Recruit 515 Youth Trainees for National Arts Organizations

Applications Accepted Until January 20

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, together with seven national arts organizations, the National Gugak Center, and the National Theater of Korea, will publicly recruit a total of 515 young trainees in four performing arts fields-classical music, dance, theater, and traditional arts-until January 20.

The "Youth Trainee Development" program aims to foster the next generation of "K-Performing Arts" leaders by providing young artists, who often struggle to gain practical experience, with opportunities for hands-on training and stage experience at national arts organizations. Previously operated by a few organizations such as the National Opera Company, the program was expanded in 2024 to include all national arts organizations. Young trainees are selected through an integrated application and review process. Over the past two years, the competition ratio for the integrated recruitment was approximately 9.5:1 and 4.92:1, respectively.

Any young artist between the ages of 19 and 34 as of the application start date (January 5, 2026), who is a graduate or expected graduate of a related university program or has relevant experience, is eligible to apply. The integrated recruitment includes: ▲ 230 positions in classical music (90 for the National Opera Company, 50 for the National Chorus, 90 for the National Symphony Orchestra), ▲ 60 in dance (30 for the National Ballet, 30 for the National Contemporary Dance Company), ▲ 60 in theater (National Theater Company), and ▲ 165 in traditional arts (60 for the National Gugak Center, 80 for the National Theater of Korea, 25 for the National Jeongdong Theater). Detailed information on eligibility and application procedures can be found on the website of the National Arts Organizations Association or on the websites of each organization.

Those selected as youth trainees will be affiliated with a national arts organization, the National Theater of Korea, or the National Gugak Center, and will receive a variety of practical training, including specialized courses (masterclasses) to enhance their expertise, as well as opportunities to perform on stage and financial support for their activities.

Lee Yongshin, Director of Arts Policy at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated, "The youth trainee program is a systematic initiative to foster the next generation of 'K-Culture' leaders in the performing arts industry," adding, "The Ministry will continue to actively support talented young artists in 2026 so they can gain experience and take a leap forward on the stages of national arts organizations."