Southern port city to open 'K-pop high school' to nurture young artists

SEOUL -- The southern port city of Busan will embark on a preparation process to open a high school that will focus on the incubation of young K-pop artists including singers, performers, writers, and composers. The high school scheduled to open in 2028 will attract students from South Korea and abroad who wish to become the next-generation BTS and BLACK PINK.

K-pop, which started as a sub-culture that was only popular among South Korean music lovers and a small number of foreign people has become one of the world's mainstream cultures. The global market that revolves around K-pop is estimated to reach $20 billion by 2030, according to global market research firm Allied Market Research.

The Busan Metropolitan City Office of Education said that the city's education board will invite specialists in the fields of pop music to offer high-quality education in the K-pop high school. The school will be set up at one of the school grounds that are closed due to a lack of students.

According to Busan City, middle school graduates from South Korea and foreign countries can enter Busan's K-pop high school to become trainees. The construction will begin in 2027 and the school will open in 2028.

"The K-pop high school will play a big role by increasing the professional skills and artistic potential of South Korean and foreign students who have the vibe and talent to incubate them into important human resources who would lead the industry," a Busan Metropolitan City Office of Education official said in a statement on June 30.

Park Sae-jin swatchsjp@ajunews.com

Southern port city to open 'K-pop high school' to nurture young artists

Related