Students from Seoul Institute of the Arts pose for a group photo with Indonesians at the Bali Arts Festival as part of a bilateral youth program at Taman Werdhi Budaya Art Centre in Bali, Indonesia. (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)

By Aisylu Akhmetzianova

A new program aims to develop young talent who will lead the global expansion of Korean culture through international cultural exchange.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in partnership with the Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange, on July 10 announced the launch of the project "Youth K-Culture Global Frontier."

The initiative helps youth develop global awareness and practical skills by planning and conducting international cultural exchanges or gaining hands-on experience at cultural institutions abroad. About 700 young people will be dispatched to 36 countries this year for this purpose.

The program's two tracks by activity method are self-planning and work experience. The former has participants plan and implement exchanges in fields such as performing arts, literature, and beauty and fashion, while the latter offers training in cultural exchange at overseas cultural institutions including Korean Cultural Centers and King Sejong Institute branches.

For example, Seoul Institute of the Arts this week took part in the Bali Arts Festival of Indonesia, presenting the traditional performing art Bongsan talchum (mask dance).

Sangmyung University in Seoul since July 9 has run a webtoon creation workshop and exhibition program in cooperation with Thailand's Ministry of Culture and Webtoon Academy Thailand.

And the Chuncheon Cultural Foundation in Chuncheon, Gangwon-do Province, from Aug. 23 will begin a collaborative visual arts project with young creators from Hong Kong.

The ministry said, "We expect the experience and global networks built by young participants abroad to turn into future assets driving the growth of 'K-culture.'"

aisylu@korea.kr