Culture ministry opens Youth Humanities Classroom applications for young adults

The culture ministry said Thursday it would recruit people aged 19 to 39 for its 2026 Youth Humanities Classroom, which offers programs on emotional recovery and life direction.

The ministry said it had substantially expanded the program's scale and format this year as human-centered humanities have grown more important amid technological advances in the artificial intelligence era. It has operated the Youth Humanities Classroom with the Korea Arts & Culture Education Service since 2025.

Online applications for the eight Humanities Happiness Centers opened Aug. 13. Each center will recruit 15 people per program. The sites include six Jigwanseoga humanities spaces and youth centers in Gwangju and Gangwon. Participants will revisit the emotions and experiences of their lives through humanities questions and connect with others.

"We hope young people discover meaning in life through the humanities, build healthy social networks and regain direction in life," Myeong Su-hyeon, the ministry's culture policy director, said.

Culture Freedom Classroom, a new program following a 2024 pilot, will open applications Aug. 20 for activities beginning in September in 14 regions. It will recruit 20 people per program, with participants staying in local communities for self-directed activities and local exploration. The program supports young people in areas facing population decline through humanities experiences such as rest, reading, writing, meditation and conversation. Programs include a Chuncheon course on "liberation and the margins," while activities in Gochang and Andong use local heritage to help participants identify questions about life.

The education service signed agreements with nine institutions, including local governments and youth organizations, and sought input from local humanities groups and young planners 19 times while preparing the programs.