The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) is responding to the rapid spread of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies by investing KRW 43 billion to train over 3,400 professionals for the evolving content industry. In collaboration with the Korea Creative Content Agency, the ministry aims to drive sustainable growth for K-content by supporting talents with expertise in tech convergence, specialization, and global expansion. Prospective trainees can apply according to their career plans and the annual schedule. Notably, this year, the ‘AI Specialized Content Academy’ has been launched as a core new initiative to address changes in content creation environments.
The AI Specialized Content Academy will receive KRW 19.2 billion, aiming to nurture 1,200 AI professionals, including 900 beginners, 100 advanced practitioners, and 100 aspiring game creators. The beginner track combines theoretical and practical AI tool training with expert guidance, while the advanced track focuses on real-world content production and commercialization. Recruitment for beginners occurs twice a year (April–August), and for advanced practitioners once (March–April). Game sector trainees are recruited in February and June. Additional programs include the Creative Talent Fellowship and industry-specific hands-on training.
The Creative Talent Fellowship, with a budget of KRW 9.7 billion, supports close mentorship with top experts such as director Jang Jae-hyun (‘Exhuma’), writer Moon Ji-won (‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo’), and composer Cho Byung-hyun (‘Reborn Rich’). In April, 300 aspiring creators aged 19–34 will be selected. Industry-specific talent development is tailored to market needs, with OTT video training in partnership with Netflix for 1,000 professionals, and specialized tracks for webtoon PDs and writers (140 trainees), animation (45), pop music (120), and pop culture arts (450).
To boost K-content’s global reach, a content export talent program will select 100 new and current professionals between April and May, offering training in overseas market research and export marketing. Detailed recruitment guidelines and schedules are available at www.kocca.kr and edu.kocca.kr. Im Seong-han, MCST’s Director of Cultural Industry Policy, emphasized that providing growth ladders for next-generation talent is key to the sustainable future of the cultural content industry, and pledged continued systematic support for creative convergence talents to become global leaders.