The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister Yu In Chon, hereafter MCST) announced that Korean Cultural Centers in 18 locations across 17 countries will take on an active role in the global promotion and expansion of K-culture across diverse genres by partnering with major local cultural arts institutions and festival organizers.

Bringing Korean Artists and Performances to the Global Stage: From Poland to the Czech Republic, Germany, the United States, and Vietnam

Korean Cultural Centers are collaborating with major local festival organizers around the world to provide opportunities for Korean artists to perform on international stages. In July, the Korean Cultural Center in Poland will invite the traditional mask dance performance group The Greatest Masque (Cheonhajeil Talgongjakso) to showcase various interpretation performances of traditional Korean mask dance at local festivals, while the Center in the Czech Republic will invite a performance team from Korea to Colours of Ostrava, the largest music festival in Central Europe, to feature electronic punk duo Fat Hamster & KANG New on stage. In September, the Center in Germany will support a tour of the Busan Philharmonic Orchestra across major classic music festivals, including Musikfest Berlin, through the Touring K-Arts initiative, which aims to support global tours of major cultural arts programs in Korea.

International performances are also planned for Korean artists to commemorate major national anniversaries and international events. In September, Korea’s leading pop opera group POET will have its U.S. debut stage at the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater in Washington, D. C., to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation. In October, world-renowned Korean classical musicians and artists, including soprano Jo Sumi, will take the stage in the Korea-Vietnam Music Concert, to be held in conjunction with the 2025 APEC Summit in Vietnam.

Supporting Young Korean Artists Abroad: From Hungary to Austria, Japan, and China

The Korean Cultural Centers are also actively supporting young cultural artists to enter international markets. In Hungary, a year-round Artist-in-Residence Program will be hosted to spotlight young artists through local stages, while jazz pianist Jin Soo Young is scheduled to perform this September. In Austria, young and innovative Korean artists across genres will join the K-on-temporary program, which introduces contemporary performance arts content via major local festivals, with this year’s lineup featuring jazz band Yong Lee & the DOLTANG (June), saenghwang (traditional Korean wind instrument) player Park Jiha (October), contemporary dance group the Gals Dance Company (October), and Tanztheatreones (October). The Korean Cultural Center in New York will introduce promising Korean artists to the New York arts scene through its original performance program KCCNY Sound & Talk, strengthening the global presence of Korean performing arts.

On May 16, K-VIBE took place in Osaka, Japan to highlight the diverse appeal of Korean pop music, with singer Park So Eun from Superstar K Season 7 taking to the stage. In Shanghai, the Center is hosting the 2025 K-Musical Festival through June 18 to showcase five Korean musicals and support the genre’s entry into the Chinese market. In Argentina, a Korean Animation Showcase will be held in June to promote domestic animation studios to expand their distribution opportunities.

Beyond these efforts, Korean Cultural Centers in France, Brazil, Australia, Russia, Indonesia, India, and UAE will offer various K-culture engagement opportunities across calligraphy, literature, jazz, dance, and K-pop.