Learning Media Literacy Through Theater... Culture Ministry Recruiting Participating Schools and Institutions

Media Literacy Theater Program Delivered Directly to Schools

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, together with the Korea Press Foundation, is recruiting middle and high schools, as well as social and community institutions nationwide, to participate in the “2026 Audience-Based Media Education Theater Program,” which aims to enhance media literacy through theatrical performances. Applications will be accepted until June 12.

This initiative is designed to foster critical thinking skills among the public and provide hands-on media literacy experience through arts and culture, especially in an environment where misinformation and disinformation are rapidly increasing due to advances in artificial intelligence (AI) technology. The program will operate on a “regional outreach” model, with professional actors visiting schools and communities directly. Approximately 60 schools and institutions across the country will be selected for participation.

The featured performance is “Jump X Cut,” a media education play developed in-house by the Korea Press Foundation last year. The story unfolds around an accident that occurs during an early morning parkour (a sport involving moving through city or natural obstacles using only the body) video shoot, illustrating the clash between truth and falsehood. The play delivers a message encouraging the audience to critically examine the authenticity of the information they see and hear.

The scenario was refined with the participation of playwright Oh Sehyuk, known for works such as “Reporting Guidelines,” enhancing the quality of the production. After the performance, there will be a “Talk Show” segment consisting of a discussion of the play, media literacy debates, and Q&A sessions. The entire program, including both the performance and the talk show, will run for 120 minutes per session.

There are two ways to participate: the “on-site” option, where the performance team visits the applying institution’s auditorium or gymnasium, and the “hub” option, where participants attend a performance at a regional venue designated by the Korea Press Foundation. Institutions selected for the on-site model can share the performance experience with neighboring schools or organizations, serving as local hubs for media education.

Applications must be submitted online via the Korea Press Foundation’s media education platform “MIKA” by 5:00 p.m. on June 12. Selected institutions will attend the performance on dates coordinated between August 3 and October 30. For more details, please refer to the announcement on the MIKA website.

A Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism policy official stated, “The immersive environment of the stage will help participants naturally grasp the core principles of media literacy, which can otherwise feel challenging.” The official added, “The Ministry will continue to promote innovative education models to strengthen the public’s media and cultural competencies in the era of AI and digital technology, including deepfake detection training and the activation of fact-checking.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.