MCST Invites Cultural Foundations and Universities to Apply for "Youth K-Culture Global Frontier" Project

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on the 23rd that, together with the Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange, it is inviting applications from regional cultural foundations and universities to carry out the "Youth K-Culture Global Frontier" project until March 20.

The Youth K-Culture Global Frontier project is designed to help young people engage in activities in overseas cultural fields, promote K-culture, build a sustainable international cultural exchange network, and grow into talents equipped with international competencies.

This call for applications will select around 11 institutions that will design and operate overseas dispatch programs for young Koreans aged between 19 and 39 who wish to gain international experience. The call consists of two types: the "institution-led type," in which the implementing institution designs the project in advance and recruits participants, and the "participant-led type," in which participating youth directly propose the destination country and project. The young participants will carry out international cultural projects for up to two months, including a two-week overseas stay.

The fields open for applications range widely from literature, visual arts, performing arts, traditional arts, and Hanbok, to general arts such as film, broadcasting, and popular music, as well as lifestyle areas including food, beauty, and fashion. The countries where the projects can be carried out are 30 nations that have Korean Cultural Centers abroad.

Selected institutions will receive support to cover necessary dispatch expenses such as airfare, living expenses, and activity costs for sending young people overseas and operating the projects. Depending on the number of dispatched participants, each regional cultural foundation can receive up to 590 million won, and each university can receive up to 295 million won. Detailed information and application forms can be found on the foundation's website.

A policy official at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism stated, "The Youth K-Culture Global Frontier project is a pilot program being implemented for the first time this year," adding, "The Ministry plans to actively support young people who have pride and passion for K-culture so that they can freely pursue their dreams on the global stage and grow into key players in international cultural exchange."