Expo participants each handed over profiles with large printed headshots and resumes to troupe and agency officials. The profiles were filled with the names of plays or musicals they had taken part in and bit parts they had appeared in. Troupe and agency officials examined each line of the resumes. Among those who came to find roles in productions, excitement and tension hung in the air. In this small audition room, someone would seize a new chance to keep their dream alive.
On the 21st, the 2025 arts jobs expo opened at Coex in Samseong-dong, Seoul. The Korea Arts Management Service (KAMS) under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Artists Welfare Foundation (KAWF) co-hosted it for two days from the 20th through that day. It is a new attempt to seek sustainable jobs for artists and the field by consolidation of policy and industry sites.
A total of 23 institutions and corporations, including the National Jeongdong Theater and Seoul Arts Center, took part, conducting mock interviews and one-on-one mentoring. Job search special lectures were also held, drawing those hoping to enter the arts sector.
First unveiled in 2015, the expo had been run with a focus on administration and planning in the arts industry. This year, for the first time, it expanded the stage by arranging open auditions for aspiring actors in theater, musicals, drama, and film.
BH Entertainment, which represents actor Lee Byung-hun, joined along with about 20 domestic production companies, troupes, and agencies. In a separate audition room closed to outsiders, only 129 of more than 1,400 applicants who passed the document screening took the stage to test their potential.
The environment for making a living through the arts has improved compared with the past and many people have the capabilities, but channels to provide consolidation to the right positions are still scarce. As of 2023, the employment rate among 74,000 graduates in arts and physical education was 67%. Not only artists but also various roles exist in administration, planning, and marketing, but related job information is scattered, making it hard to explore career paths.
Yu Aram, 31, who dreams of becoming a performance and event planning expert, also learned about this arts jobs expo through social media (SNS). She said there are few places that similarly offer information or opportunities, so she came here for two consecutive days.
Yu opened by saying, "It's almost a shame that several programs run in the same time slot." She added, "Officials from institutions explained what to supplement on my resume and what experiences are needed, which helped a lot," and said, "It's an opportunity to explore what roles in the arts field I should prepare for to match my capabilities."
For institutions, it is also a venue to meet new talent. The National Jeongdong Theater has run a booth at the arts jobs expo for three years. It said there was a moment when a job seeker it had consulted at a past expo joined as a new employee, directly experiencing the point where the field and hiring meet.
An official said, "At a gathering of various national and public institutions and private arts organizations, it's a chance to let people know what differentiates our theater." The official added, "Many people want to enter the industry but don't know how. Even if it isn't Jeongdong Theater, when we talk about what preparation is needed to get into a culture and arts institution, job seekers find their direction and we also gain energy."
This expo operated auditions and hiring consultations by reservation. Over two days, 2,133 people explored career paths here. Waiting times for job seekers were reduced, and institutions conducted highly focused consultations after first identifying the basic resumes of those they would meet.
An event official said, "Behind the global growth of K-content are the skills amassed on the ground by various artists in acting, planning, administration, and marketing," and added, "We expect this expo to introduce diverse jobs that allow artists to work in a sustainable environment and to serve as an opportunity to expand the arts ecosystem."