Busan to open first K-pop high school in 2028
Are you dreaming of becoming the next Filipino K-pop idol like LAPILLUS' Chanty or Kriesha Chu? Here is your chance!
A first in Busan, the city will open a high school specializing in K-pop and other related performances in 2028.
Citing Busan Metropolitan City Office of Education, Yonhap News Agency reported that the public specialized educational institution, tentatively called Busan International K-Pop High School, will be established on the site of the soon-to-be-closed Garak Middle School in the city's Gangseo-gu District.
"K-pop-related industries continue to grow, but we lack educational institutions specialized in education on applied arts related to K-pop, plus the implementation of a curriculum related to schools specializing in practical arts education to foster K-pop talent is growingly needed," the office said.
The institution, which plans to offer lessons in singing, dancing, musical instruments, and other arts, will be open to both local and international students, aiming to attract a more extensive and more diversified student body as well as to give students specialized courses in line with the expanding K-pop business.
Meanwhile, the Korea Tourism Organization and the National Institute for International Education will work with the education agency to launch the school and attract international students.
The city's education authorities aim to open the educational institution in March 2028.
Apart from Korea, Singapore is also gearing up to launch its first K-pop high school this year through Singapore Raffles Music College (SRMC), in collaboration with the School of Performing Arts Seoul (SOPA), a popular arts high school in Seoul that has produced some of K-pop's biggest names including Stray Kids member I.N, IVE's Rei and Wonyoung and TREASURE's Bang Yedam, among others.
The school will accept students from “Southeast Asia, primarily Singapore, and offer them specialized K-pop education.”