The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister YU In Chon, MCST) is conducting various events throughout the year aimed at promoting “K-Music” internationally. These events are centered around overseas Korean Cultural Centers, which collaborate with leading local cultural and arts organizations to plan joint concerts and collaborative performances. This initiative introduces a variety of Korean music genres, including classical, traditional, and jazz, to international audiences.

The Korean Cultural Center in Poland is participating as a collaborating organization in the “International Chopin and his Europe Festival” in August, featuring a performance by the KBS Symphony Orchestra. In September, the Korean Cultural Center in Spain plans to showcase “DongYang Gozupa,” a rock band that incorporates traditional Korean music, at Spain’s notable street art festival “La Merce” and the traditional art market “Mercat de Música Viva de Vic” in Catalonia. In addition, the Korean Cultural Center in Sydney is collaborating with “Vivid Sydney,” the city’s largest festival, to host the “K-Indie Music Festival X Vivid Sydney” in June.

These centers also serve as practical bridges for young musicians entering the international scene. Jazz pianist JIN Su Young is currently engaged in a two-year residency at the Korean Cultural Center in Hungary through their “Artist-in-Residence Program,” collaborating with the Modern Arts Orchestra and local jazz musicians. The Korean Cultural Center in New York in collaboration with the CJ Cultural Foundation, co-hosted the “Young Korean Artists Series” in March. This event supported performances by gayageum player KIM Do Yeon Band and jazz pianist RYU Da Bin Band, among other collaborations with domestic companies.

In addition, MCST is supporting the international promotion of traditional Korean music from multiple angles. In May, the Korean Cultural Center in Germany is assisting the “Leeheemoon Project Band” in their international debut, presenting a fresh interpretation of traditional Korean music by blending it with disco, funk, reggae, and jazz. In September, the Korean Cultural Center in Sweden plans to hold the “Kulturvecka: Sounds of Korea” concert, introducing the essence of creative traditional Korean music through performances by KIM Duk Soo and Ensemble Sinawi.

Moreover, various other events are scheduled throughout the year to promote Korean music globally. These include a collaborative performance between a traditional Korean orchestra and Japanese musicians at the Korean Cultural Center in Osaka in April, the “11th K-Music Festival” by the Korean Cultural Center in the United Kingdom from October to November, the invitation of Korean musicians to the “Freespace Jazzfest” by the Korean Cultural Center in Hong Kong in October, and the hosting of the Arirang Contest by the Korean Cultural Center in Mexico in October.