[Arirang Culture Connect: Seoul]

The International Esports Committee (IEC) and Culture Masters have announced a strategic partnership aimed at developing a new model of global education that integrates esports, K-pop, and cultural–ethical learning.

International Esports Committee (Secretary-General Eok-Kyung Kim) and Culture Masters (CEO and Chairman of the Advocacy Alliance for Culture Masters, SeongYong Park) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on January 8, 2026, at the IEC headquarters in Seoul.

The agreement marks the formal launch of cooperation for the Shema Global School initiative, an international education project designed to combine esports and gaming, K-pop, and K-culture with arts, creativity, and cultural ethics. Through this partnership, the two institutions aim to establish a long-term collaborative framework for cultivating globally competent youth equipped with both professional skills and cultural literacy.

Eok-Kyung Kim, Secretary-General of the International E-Sports Committee (left), and SeongYong Park, President of Culture Masters and Chair of the Advocacy Alliance for Culture Masters, shake hands after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

Building an Integrated Global Education Framework

Under the MoU, the two parties confirmed a shared vision for an integrated educational model centered on esports, K-pop, culture, and creative practice. The agreement outlines the foundational principles for future detailed contracts while enabling immediate cooperation.

The International Esports Committee will take the lead in designing esports and gaming-focused academic tracks, providing strategic direction for industry alignment, and facilitating access to its global esports network.

Culture Masters will assume responsibility for the planning and operation of the school’s Core Curriculum, which will serve as the common educational foundation across all academic tracks within the institution.

Culture-Based Core Curriculum as the Educational Backbone

A defining feature of the partnership is the role of Culture Masters in delivering the Core Curriculum, positioned not as a supplementary program but as the intellectual and ethical backbone of the Shema Global School.

The curriculum will include:

Foundational studies in K-culture, encompassing both traditional and contemporary Korean culture

Creative capacity development through project-based and interdisciplinary learning

Education in cultural diversity, peace, and international understanding

Global citizenship and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) education

Contemporary applications of intangible cultural heritage and living heritage

Through this framework, students specializing in esports, K-pop, modeling, and digital content creation will gain the cultural, ethical, and global competencies necessary for sustainable careers in the international arena.

Cho Jung-young, a professor at Hanyang University widely regarded as the godfather of Korean taekwondo (center in the photo), attended the event and delivered words of encouragement.

From Technical Training to Culture-Centered Global Leadership

Both institutions view the partnership as a turning point in redefining the identity of the global school—from a technically oriented training institution to a culture-centered model for global talent development.

Expected outcomes include:

Enhanced international credibility and brand value of the global school

Establishment of Culture Masters as a core academic partner through its standardized Core Curriculum

Applicability of the curriculum as a reference model for overseas campuses, international collaborations, and online programs

Long-term accumulation of educational and intellectual assets through curriculum development

Phased Collaboration Toward Long-Term Implementation

The MoU represents a principled agreement preceding a formal contract. While collaboration will commence immediately in recognition of the project’s urgency, detailed arrangements regarding governance, finance, legal responsibility, and brand usage will be finalized through subsequent agreements.

Eok-Kyung Kim, Secretary-General of the International Esports Committee, stated,
“Developing talent with cultural understanding and global citizenship is no longer optional in today’s global industry. Our partnership with Culture Masters significantly elevates the completeness and credibility of the global school model.”

SeongYong Park: Culture as a Public Asset for Humanity’s Shared Future

SeongYong Park, CEO of Culture Masters, emphasized that the collaboration reflects a broader cultural vision.

“By embedding Culture Masters’ experience in cultural strategy, creativity, and international cooperation into the school’s Core Curriculum, we are strengthening the competitiveness of every academic track,” he said. “This partnership enables us to advance a culture-based global education model that extends beyond content production into ethics, policy, education, and leadership.”

Park, a cultural strategist with a PhD in Cultural Heritage Studies from The University of Queensland, has consistently advocated for a governance framework grounded in empathy and solidarity. His work focuses on expanding the global influence of Korean culture beyond entertainment, positioning it as a platform for ethical reflection, policy dialogue, and educational innovation.

Through these efforts, SeongYong Park has played a leading role in articulating culture as a public asset—one that transcends consumption and contributes to shaping humanity’s shared future in the international community.