The Korea Music Label Industry Association (KMLIA) held an orientation for the '2026 Popular Music Practical Masterclass' at the Toz Sinchon Business Center in Seoul on July 30, marking the start of full-scale training.

This program is hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and organized by the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA). It consists of four weeks of practical training and approximately five months of internship. It is a practice-oriented course covering the overall popular music industry.

Industry experts will directly lecture in each field, including A&R, concert planning, music distribution, marketing, copyright, and global music business. The lineup of instructors includes Lee Jun-sang, Co-CEO of Chili Music Korea; Kim Ki-deok, CEO of Cools Music; Lee Nam-kyung, Secretary-General of the Korea Entertainment Management Association; Cha Sang-soo, Head of Division at Fluxus; Lee Byung-ok, CEO of Music&New; officials from Sidus Inc.; Hwang Guk-chan, Team Leader at KBS WORLD; law firm Shinwon; and Cha Woo-jin, CEO of Enter Culture Research Institute.

The training spaces are also operated in a field-oriented manner. Theory and practice will be combined at music industry practical spaces including Toz Sinchon Business Center, Prism Hall, BRST Studio, and Kitabalu Flagship Store, allowing students to develop practical skills in various music environments.

For special lectures, YB bassist and adjunct professor at Baekseok Arts University and Kyung Hee University, Park Tae-hee, and electronic musician KIRARA will appear to share their experiences as artists and the creative process of the music industry with the trainees.

After completing the training, participants will undertake a five-month internship at music-related companies. About 40 companies, including Rolling Hall Co., Ltd., Hanteo Global, Archive Morning, Your Summer, and Muzlive, are participating to provide hands-on field experience.

At the orientation that day, selected trainees and the operations team met to share the program's direction, curriculum, and internship plans. Park Jun-seok, Chairman of the Korea Music Label Industry Association, said in his welcoming remarks, "I hope this masterclass will provide trainees with industry field experience and a broad network, contributing to the growth of professional talent who will lead the popular music industry."

The association emphasized that this masterclass is a practice-oriented program that goes beyond theoretical education to encompass lectures by current industry experts, project execution, field training, and internship linkage. It plans to continue supporting the sustainable growth of the popular music industry and young people's entry into the music industry.