The Korea Arts Council’s ARKO and Daehangno Arts Theater is set to resume the popular youth arts career exploration program, Daehangno Dream School, marking its return after a four-year hiatus due to COVID-19. This initiative, starting from November 7 through December 11, invites middle school students to explore careers in the performing arts by engaging in real theater settings and experiences.

Launched in September 2016, Daehangno Dream School aligns with South Korea’s “free semester system” for middle school students, allowing them to explore different career paths outside of traditional academics. Since its inception, it has allowed youth to dive into various fields within the performing arts, utilizing spaces such as the ARKO Arts Theater and Daehangno Arts Theater in Seoul. This innovative approach to education earned it the prestigious Minister of Education Award in 2017.

Before the pandemic, the program offered three main experiences: theater tours, “I’m an Actor,” and “I’m a Dancer.” Now, the returning Daehangno Dream School will initially focus on “I’m an Actor,” which received strong positive feedback from past participants. In this course, students are immersed in the world of acting as they explore scenes adapted from popular youth literature, training alongside professional actors to gain hands-on experience in performance and stage presence.

The program is held in the Daehangno Arts Theater’s Studio Sky, a rehearsal space commonly used by professional actors and dancers, allowing students to gain insights into the behind-the-scenes efforts in the performing arts. This year, a total of 270 students from 12 middle schools across Seoul will participate. These students were selected in March through a collaborative recruitment process with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education’s Physical Education, Health, and Arts Education Division.

Looking ahead, Daehangno Dream School plans to expand its offerings in 2024 by reintroducing the “I’m a Dancer” program, aiming to broaden the scope of arts education for youth. This initiative represents a continued commitment to fostering artistic talent and career awareness among young students, reinforcing the value of creative exploration in youth development.

A representative from the Korea Arts Council commented, “We are thrilled to welcome back students to Daehangno Dream School and to offer them a space to experience the arts first-hand. As we look to the future, we aim to expand these opportunities and make arts education an integral part of career exploration for youth.”

Sayart / Joy, nunimbos@gmail.com