Busan Metropolitan City is strengthening its content industry competitiveness through a webtoon talent development program.
The city announced Thursday that the Busan Information Industry Promotion Agency (BIIPA) has been selected for the second consecutive year in the Korea Creative Content Agency's (KOCCA) "Regional-Based Webtoon Artist Development Project" open call, securing 150 million won ($110,000) in central government funding.
The program discovers and nurtures emerging webtoon artists using regional educational infrastructure. In Busan, BIIPA, which operates the Global Webtoon Center, serves as the implementing agency. Using the secured funding, the city plans to intensively cultivate creative talent to lead the regional webtoon industry and support market entry both domestically and internationally.
Last year's program achieved a 100% completion rate with all 13 trainees finishing the course, while generating six business development projects — practical results credited as the key factor behind this year's consecutive selection.
This year's program focuses on a step-by-step growth system that connects beyond basic education to actual industry entry. In addition to one-on-one expert mentoring, practical workshops, critique sessions, and field training, the program will also include overseas exhibitions and tie-ins with regional festivals.
Applications are open to both aspiring and established artists until March 3. The 13 final selectees will begin participating in the full creative support program starting in June.
"We will firmly establish a virtuous cycle by organically linking this project with existing infrastructure such as the Busan Global Webtoon Center and Webtoon Festival, enabling talent discovered in Busan to expand into the global market," said Cho Yu-jang, Director of the Culture Bureau at Busan Metropolitan City.