[Edaily Starin KIM HYUNSIK Reporter] The Korea Popular Music Industry Association (KPMA) announced on the 13th that it is recruiting participants for the “K-Pop Internship Camp,” aimed at young people hoping to find employment in the popular music industry.

This camp is being operated as part of the “2026 Popular Music Business Workforce Development Project,” hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and organized by the Korea Creative Content Agency. It aims to cultivate hands-on professionals who meet the demands of the popular music industry and support youth employment by combining training led by industry experts with corporate internships.
Applications will be accepted until the 24th. Eligible applicants include South Korean citizens who are college graduates, soon-to-be graduates, or unemployed youth seeking employment in the popular music industry. A total of 40 final participants will be selected through a two-stage screening process.
The selected participants will take part in approximately four weeks of intensive training followed by a five-month corporate internship. The training program features a faculty of current and former music industry experts who will deliver theory-based lectures centered on real-world music business case studies, as well as hands-on practical training. The curriculum covers core areas across the entire popular music industry, including △Marketing and Public Relations △Intellectual Property (IP) Business △Management △Record Production and A&R △Music Distribution △Concert Production △Content Production. Field trip programs will also provide participants with opportunities to gain firsthand experience in the music industry settings they plan to enter, thereby deepening their understanding of the sector.
Upon completion of the program, participants will undertake approximately five months of on-site internships at partner companies including △DSP Media △FNC Entertainment △HYBE (and its subsidiary labels) △RBW △SM Entertainment △WM Entertainment △YG Plus △YG Entertainment △Danal Entertainment △Dreamus Company △Music & New △Antenna Music △OZQ Blending △Init Entertainment △Jellyfish Entertainment △KT Genie Music, among others. Internship placements will be matched based on the participants’ preferred job roles, as expressed during the training program.
Detailed information, including how to apply, is available on the Korea Popular Music Industry Association (KPMA) website. The KPMA stated, “For the sustained growth of the popular music industry, it is of utmost importance to consistently cultivate practical talent that meets the demands of the field,” adding, “We will organically link education with internships and provide hands-on corporate experience through a five-month long-term placement to develop talent that can be immediately deployed in the field.”