Up to 40 million won in support for performances invited overseas... First call for ‘K-Arts on the GO’

[Financial News] The cap on airfare and shipping-cost support for Korean performances that have 11 or more people invited to perform overseas will rise from 30 million won to 40 million won. Support will also be extended to a wider range of performance and exhibition production staff.
On the 9th, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said it would launch the first-round call for applications for the 2027 ‘K-Arts on the GO’ program together with the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE). The program is for performances and exhibitions to be held overseas in 2027 and 2028.
The program helps cover airfare and artwork shipping costs for Korean artists and groups invited by overseas performance venues, exhibition spaces, art festivals and other organizations listed in the ‘Platform Directory.’ Eligible applicants in the performance category are Korean nonprofit professional performing arts organizations; in the visual arts category, they are visual artists of Korean nationality and nonprofit organizations. Invitation requirements and applicant eligibility are verified through submitted documents, without a separate review of the artwork.
The basic caps are 30 million won for performances and 40 million won for visual arts. For performances, support covers up to four people in addition to the performers, including directors and lighting and sound staff; for exhibitions, it covers up to two people in addition to the artist, including curators and technical staff. Only people named in supporting documents such as invitation letters are eligible, and administrative staff are limited to two for performances and one for exhibitions.
The number of supported cases rose from 54 in the program’s first year, 2025 (83 applications), to 61 this year (105 applications). The MCST allocated 1.8 billion won in next year’s proposed government budget, 50% more than this year’s 1.2 billion won.
Theater company Hatangse organized its actors into two casts and gave seven performances of the children’s play ‘Wait at Whale Rock’ at the Sydney Opera House in Australia from September 30 to October 2. Through the program, KOFICE covered airfare for eight participants, including six actors, as well as additional checked-baggage charges for props and equipment.
The number of overseas organizations and events listed in the Platform Directory has grown from 868 at the time of the third call in July to 902 now. Next year, the MCST and KOFICE will evaluate the entire list for the first time. They plan to review each entry’s operations and contribution to overseas expansion, and remove those that fall short of the criteria after a grace period.
Overseas organizations or events not on the list can be proposed at any time through the program website. KOFICE will publish the results of reviews by external experts after October next year and add entries that meet the requirements to the list.
Applications for the first-round call will be accepted through the National Culture and Arts Support System (NCAS) from the 16th until 5 p.m. on the 23rd. Applicants must submit documents verifying the invitation, such as performance or exhibition contracts. Applications for shipping costs also require three quotations and a shipping list. The selection results are scheduled to be announced at 2 p.m. on December 9. The second and third calls will follow in March and July next year, respectively.
Kim Hyun-jun, director general for international cultural policy at the MCST, said, “We will further strengthen our support so that Korean artists can meet overseas audiences with outstanding works.”

[email protected] Jang In-seo Reporter