The girl group (G)I-DLE on Nov. 29 last year performs at the MAMA Awards held at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. (Facebook account of Mnet M Countdown)

By Wu Jinhua
 

A public school to be opened in Busan will foster talent who will lead the nation's leading form of cultural content, K-pop.

The Busan Metropolitan City Office of Education on Jan. 7 said it will open by March 2028 the tentatively named Busan International K-pop High School.

The office said, "K-pop-related industries continue to grow but we lack educational institutions specialized in education on applied arts related to K-pop, plus implementation of a curriculum related to schools specializing in practical arts education to foster K-pop talent is growingly needed."

To be categorized as a public specialized high school, the proposed institution will be built on the site of the soon-to-be-closed Garak Middle School in the city's Gangseo-gu District.

The recruiting targets will be graduates of domestic middle schools nationwide and those from abroad.

The curriculum will include tailored programs in applied arts such as voice, dance and musical instruments and those customized for overseas students. 

The education office will collaborate with the National Institute for International Education and Korea Tourism Organization to launch the school and recruit students from around the world.

jane0614@korea.kr