2026 K-Pop Academy – Apply to join the FREE two-week intensive class or try a special one-day class!  Calling all K-Pop fans! Ready to dance like your favorite idols? Join the 2026 K-Pop Academy and bring your stage dreams to life! This year, we are offering both a two-week intensive course and several one-day classes to make the program even more accessible to all. Please choose the option that best fits your interests. Please note: applicants may apply to only one program option! Duplicate applications may be disqualified.  There is no cost to apply or participate, but space is highly limited for all program options. The application process is competitive for the two-week intensive program, and participants will be selected based on their application; the one-day K-Pop dance programs are not competitive, but and participants will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. Please see below for full details and application instructions. Inquiries: For more information, please visit the KCCDC website for updates or email us at soh24@mofa.or.kr. Two-Week Intensive Dance Class Applications Open June 10 at 10:00 AM!  Two-Week Intensive Dance Class Application Link  ●Dates/Schedule: July 20 – August 1, 2026 (6 two-hour sessions plus a final showcase on Saturday, August 1) ●Application Period: June 10 - June 17 ●Selection Results Announced: June 23 ●Location: Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. (2370 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008) ●Participants: 20 participants will be selected each for the Beginner Class and Intermediate Class ●Eligibility: Open to K-Pop fans ages 15 and older. Participants must be able to attend all class sessions in person in Washington, D.C. ●Fee: Free to apply and participate!  ●Language: All classes will be conducted in English. Korean language ability is not required. Instructor & Class Format   A professional K-Pop dance choreographer from Korea with experience training well-known K-Pop idol groups will lead the program, providing high-quality instruction tailored to participants' levels across two groups. This year’s academy will focus on dance training without a separate vocal training group.   [Beginner] ●For those who are interested in K-Pop but have little or no dance experience ●Focuses on basic choreography, performance understanding, teamwork building [Intermediate] ●For those with prior experience in K-Pop dance at an intermediate level ●Focuses on choreography creation, effective practice techniques, role sharing, and leadership skills Not sure which level to choose? No worries! Just upload a 1-minute dance video in the application form, and our instructor will help determine the best level for you.   One-day K-Pop Dance Classes Applications Open June 10 at 10:00 AM! (first-come, first-served)  One-day Dance Class Application Link  July 21, 7PM July 28, 7 PM July 30, 7 PM ●Dates: July 21, July 28, July 30 (7 - 9 PM) Please choose just one date option! ●Location: Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. (2370 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008) ●Participants: 20 participants for each class ●Eligibility: Open to K-Pop fans ages 15 and older. Participants must be able to attend all class sessions in person in Washington, D.C. ●Fee: Free to apply and participate! ●Language: All classes will be conducted in English. Korean language ability is not required. Participants can select only one class from the three options below. The choreography will be original choreography created by the instructor. ●July 21, 2026 | 7:00 – 9:00 PM Dance Song: Love, Maybe by MeloMance (멜로망스), Beginner Level ●July 28, 2026 | 7:00 – 9:00 PM Dance Song: Free from KPop Demon Hunters, Intemediate Level and up ●July 30, 2026 | 7:00 – 9:00 PM Dance Song: Heaven by Taemin (태민), Intemediate Level and up    

  Intersecting Identities, Lives: Perhaps, All of Us exhibition comes to Washington D.C. courtesy of Korea’s Touring K-Arts Project and the Seoul Museum of Art The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. (KCCDC) proudly presents Perhaps, All of Us, a new touring exhibition of acclaimed contemporary art organized by the Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) for Korea’s Touring K-Arts Project, on view June 17 to August 11.   Conceived in Seoul and presented as a traveling exhibition in Washington, D.C. and Ottawa, Perhaps, All of Us examines the shared sense of place between these capital cities. It explores key themes of publicness, historicity, and diversity through the lens of contemporary Korean art and the eyes of visionary artists Park Chan-Kyong, Jungwon Phee, Gala Porras-Kim, Im Youngzoo, Young-jun Tak, Lee JeeYang, Jung Yeondoo, Eunu Lee, Ayoung Kim, Jaehun Park, Park Hyesoo, Jisun Shin, and Shin Mi Jung. Capitals function not only as political, administrative, and cultural centers, but also as spaces where diverse identities, memories, and relationships intersect. They also evolve as urban environments shaped by the accumulation of countless individual lives and experiences. Within this context, Perhaps, All of Us reflects on how we perceive and relate to one another, including which memories and values are preserved or excluded in society.   The 13 participating artists explore the intersection of personal experience and social reality through a wide range of media and perspectives. Their works reveal the norms and boundaries formed within urban spaces, the relationships between communities and others, and the emotions and memories often overlooked in everyday life. In doing so, the exhibition moves beyond individual or regional narratives to raise universal questions that resonate with contemporary audiences.   Perhaps, All of Us is organized into three thematic sections. Part 1, Our Unknown Country, examines publicness through the dynamics of exclusion and hospitality that emerge along the boundaries between “us” and “others.” Part 2, Time Out of Bounds, recalls forgotten or silenced histories to reconsider how the present has been shaped through layers of accumulation and omission. Part 3, Perhaps, All of Us, confronts unfamiliarity and interpersonal difference while also exploring possibilities for coexistence grounded in diversity.   Through the diverse social experiences and sensibilities captured in contemporary Korean art, Perhaps, All of Us invites visitors to empathize with the lives and perspectives of others, and to consider how such empathy may expand into meaningful solidarity.   Perhaps, All of Us launches with an opening reception on Wednesday, June 17, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., including remarks by featured artist Jaehun Park about his artistic practice and the exhibition’s central themes. The opening will also include a guided exhibition tour led by a curator from the Seoul Museum of Art, who will introduce the curatorial framework and key works on view.   Perhaps, All of Us June 17 – August 11, 2026 Opening Reception & Artist Talk: Wednesday, June 17, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. (2370 Massachusetts Ave. NW) Featuring Park Chan-Kyong, Jungwon Phee, Gala Porras-Kim, Im Youngzoo, Young-jun Tak, Lee JeeYang, Jung Yeondoo, Eunu Lee, Ayoung Kim, Jaehun Park, Park Hyesoo, Jisun Shin, and Shin Mi Jung RSVP FOR THE OPENING EVENT! About the Exhibition   Perhaps, All of Us reflects on the ways in which we form relationships and coexist in a world shaped by intersecting, diverse life conditions and experiences. Conceived in Seoul and presented as a traveling exhibition in Washington, D.C. and Ottawa, it focuses on the shared spatial identity of these capital cities, drawing out three thematic axes from this foundation: publicness, historicity, and diversity. As centers of politics and administration, and as sites wherein multiple cultures converge, these cities accumulate collective memory and identity even as their boundaries are continually drawn and redrawn.   The exhibition examines these themes in both a Korean context and through the eyes of visionary Korean & Korean-heritage artists Park Chan-Kyong, Jungwon Phee, Gala Porras-Kim, Im Youngzoo, Young-jun Tak, Lee JeeYang, Jung Yeondoo, Eunu Lee, Ayoung Kim, Jaehun Park, Park Hyesoo, Jisun Shin, and Shin Mi Jung.   Part 1: Our Unknown Country examines publicness by exploring how we perceive and relate to one another. It looks closely at the subtle thresholds where “us” and “not us” are defined, and where exclusion and hospitality intersect.   Part 2: Time Out of Bounds calls forth times that have been forgotten or silenced, querying how the present has been shaped through layers of accumulation and omission. In doing so, it both invites a renewed understanding of the present and encourages us to view the future through a historical lens.   Part 3: Perhaps, All of Us confronts the unfamiliarity and differences that arise within the layers of publicness and historicity, seeking possibilities for coexistence grounded in the diversity each of us carries.   Through contemporary Korean art, this exhibition illuminates the intersection of individual experiences and social contexts, prompting a reconsideration of the norms and boundaries we often take for granted. The narratives explored in the works extend beyond any single region, resonating with the situations we all face in the contemporary era. As we strive to measure and understand one another’s lives and temporalities, we begin to empathize with the experiences of others. That empathy, in turn, has the potential to expand into solidarity, bringing us, perhaps, closer to what it truly means to be “us.”   For more on the featured artists and their individual practices, see below.    Part 1: Our Unknown Country   Jaehun Park Ritual for the Iceberg 2022, 3D simulation video on square LED display, sound, 4 min. 16 sec., ed. 3/3, Courtesy of the artist, commissioned by LG Display and Ulsan Art Museum Park Chan-Kyong Folkism_Rock Man  2010, digital pigment print, 76 × 70 cm, Seoul Museum of Art Collection Park Hyesoo A place for anybody and somebody, Audience No. 43 2020, steel chair, variable paper chair, polaroid film, text, single-channel video, color, sound, 15 min. 33 sec., dimensions variable Seoul Museum of Art Collection Part 2: Time Out of Bounds Ayoung Kim PH Express 2011, two-channel video, color, sound (stereo), 31 min. 57 sec., ed. 2/3 (3+A.P.1), Seoul Museum of Art Collection Im Youngzoo Generally Fair 2017, single-channel video, color, sound (stereo), 7 min. 30 sec., ed. 1/3, Seoul Museum of Art Collection Shin Mi Jung Bam Island 2020, single-channel video, color, sound, 19 min. 41 sec., ed. 1/5 (5+A.P.1), Seoul Museum of Art Collection Jisun Shin The White Fox’s Spellbook 2021, single-channel video, color, sound, 10 min. 12 sec., ed. 1/5, Seoul Museum of Art Collection   Part 3: Perhaps, All of Us Gala Porras-Kim Muscle Memory 2017, single-channel video, black-and-white, silent, 6 min. 10 sec., Seoul Museum of Art Collection, gift of Gala Porras-Kim and Commonwealth and Council Eunu Lee Rusty Bronze 2016, urethane paint on Styrofoam, 52.5 × 125.6 × 17.5 cm, Seoul Museum of Art Collection Lee JeeYang figure#0 2019, archival pigment print, 70 × 70 cm, ed. 1/5 (5+A.P.2), Seoul Museum of Art Collection Jung Yeondoo Six Points 2010, single-channel video, color, sound, 28 min. 44 sec., A.P.1, Seoul Museum of Art Collection Young-jun Tak Love Your Clean Feet on Thursday 2023, single-channel 4K video, color, 5.1 sound, 18 min. 53 sec., ed. 2/5 (5+A.P.2), Seoul Museum of Art Collection, supported by Fondation d'entreprise Hermès, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, Burger Collection, Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien, Stiftung Kunstfonds, and NEUSTARTplus-Stipendium Jungwon Phee Untitled: The Black Path CDVIII 2025, oil on canvas, 162.2 × 130.3 cm, Courtesy of the artist  

Join the KCCDC in partnership with nine DC-based embassies and cultural centers as we proudly presents EuroAsia Shorts 2026! EAS marks its 20th anniversary this year as the Capital's only embassy-hosted short film festival, offering an international cinematic dialogue that's always free and open to the public.  On June 11 at 6:00 p.m., the KCCDC and the Italian Cultural Institute of Washington present a special pairing of Korean and Italian films at the Embassy of Italy. Korea will also be featured among the closing night films from all countries on June 12 at the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center. For details on all events and to RSVP, visit www.EuroAsiaShortsDC.com. EAS 2026 offers a full week of six in-person short film screening, discussion, and reception events representing South Korea, Austria, Indonesia, Germany, Japan, Italy, Oman, Spain, Pakistan, and France. The theme which ties all EAS films together in 2026 is Past/Present/Future, reflecting cross-cultural insights into generational change, cultural heritage, modernization, technology, and life’s precious, fleeting moments, presented in harmony with America’s 250th anniversary milestone. EuroAsia Shorts 2026 Festival Dates: June 5 - 12 Multiple Venues  For details on all events and to RSVP, visit www.EuroAsiaShortsDC.com. Korea & Italy Pairing Program: Screening + Discussion Thursday, June 11 at 6:00 p.m. Embassy of Italy 3000 Whitehaven St NW, Washington, DC 20008 RSVP FOR THIS EVENT! EuroAsia Shorts 2026 Ten countries. Six programs. One medium. Celebrating 20 years of insightful short films from Asia and Europe presented in Washington, D.C.   June 5 - 12, 2026 | 5 Country Pairing Programs & 1 All-Inclusive Closing www.euroasiashortsdc.com | www.facebook.com/EuroAsiaShorts   (Washington, D.C.) EuroAsia Shorts (EAS) proudly celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2026 with a full week of six in-person screening, discussion, and reception events featuring international short films at Washington, D.C. embassies and cultural centers, available free to the public, June 5 – 12. Join an international cinematic dialogue that is uniquely Washingtonian as we celebrate two decades of EAS in the nation’s Capital in the year of the United States’ Semiquincentennial!   This year, EAS opens on Friday, June 5 and closes on Friday, June 12. The first five evenings—each a pairing of short films from two countries designed as a cinematic conversation—will be followed by the traditional closing night on Friday June 12, featuring short films from all partner countries, represented by DC-based embassies and cultural organizations. Several events include post-film discussions and complementary receptions.   The annual theme which ties all EAS films together in 2026 is Past/Present/Future, reflecting insights into generational change, cultural heritage, modernization, technology, and life’s precious, fleeting moments, presented in harmony with America’s 250th anniversary milestone.   EAS films span all genres and styles, and naturally encompass diverse worldviews and cultural perspectives. Through the lens of a central theme, EAS strives to highlight its featured countries’ uniqueness as well as their shared humanity.   All EAS programs are free to attend. Registration is required, with limited ticket quantities. All films are presented with original audio and English subtitles (as needed). Find complete information, schedules, images, and partner information at www.EuroAsiaShortsDC.com.   About the Theme: Past/Present/Future   The theme for EAS 2026 is Past/Present/Future. Individuals, communities, cultures, and countries are all constantly journeying from the past, through the present, and into the future. From time to time we pass certain milestones and may reflect on how far we've come—or the unwritten and unimaginable road ahead. Some traditions deserve to be carried forward, while others are best left behind, either for their own sake or to pave the way forward. Regardless, the decisions of today are often driven by our experiences as much as by what we want to become. Touchstones, innovations, nostalgia, trepidation, and aspiration all compete for our fleeting attention. Thus, to balance the past, present, and future without being bound to any one is an eminently human challenge.    About the Festival   Now in its 20th year (2026), EuroAsia Shorts (originally the Asian-European Short Film Showcase) remains a collaboration between a small group of Washington, D.C. embassies and cultural centers. Since 2006, the festival has presented more than 400 short films, including many award-winning and aspiring filmmaker shorts making their U.S. or world premiere. Each year an exceptionally broad variety of films and styles are presented, all connected by a single theme to facilitate meaningful, insightful discussion. EuroAsia Shorts offers an international cinematic dialogue that is uniquely Washingtonian.   EAS pairing programs were originally conceived as a format that can foster a cultural dialogue, showcasing about 30 minutes of short films from each of two countries—one Asian and one European—followed by a wide-ranging audience discussion with guest speakers from culture and film. The final closing program features extra-short shorts films from all participating countries and a lively panel discussion, tying together the festival’s broader theme of universality and cross-cultural understanding.   The 2026 festival features films from 10 countries. Check out the links below for more on each partner organization and our many cultural programs beyond EAS.   EAS 2026 Partner Organizations: Alliance Française de Washington Austrian Cultural Forum Washington Cultural Office, Embassy of Spain Embassy of Pakistan Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia Goethe-Institut Washington (Germany) Italian Cultural Institute Japan Information and Culture Center, Embassy of Japan Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C., Embassy of the Republic of Korea The Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center (Oman)   Brief Schedule   Pairing Programs | June 5 – 12   Spain & Oman | In-person Friday, June 5 at 6:00 p.m. Former Residence of the Ambassadors of Spain 2801 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20009   Austria & Indonesia | In-person Monday, June 8 at 7:30 p.m. Embassy of Austria 3524 International Ct NW, Washington, DC 20008   Japan & Germany | In-person Tuesday, June 9 at 6:30 p.m. Japan Information & Culture Center, Embassy of Japan 1150 18th St NW #100 Washington, DC 20036   Pakistan & France | In-person Wednesday, June 10 at 7:00 p.m. Embassy of Pakistan 3517 International Ct NW, Washington, DC 20008   Italy & South Korea | In-person Thursday, June 11 at 6:00 p.m. Embassy of Italy 3000 Whitehaven St NW, Washington, DC 20008   Closing Program | June 12   All Countries | In-person Friday, June 12 at 7:30 p.m. The Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center 1100 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20036   EuroAsia Shorts would like to thank the following supporters and contributors:   International Short Film Festival Oberhausen (loan of featured German films) European-American Cultural Foundation (reception support)     How to RSVP   All RSVP links, once announced, will be available at www.EuroAsiaShortsDC.com. However, not all events will be posted at the same time and registration processes may vary for each host partner. To receive invitations directly and as early as possible, follow individual EAS partners on social media or join their e-mailing lists via the links above or on the central EAS website. Some films may be intended for mature audiences.   Press Contacts / EAS 2026 Co-Chairs   Adam Wojciechowicz, Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. (202) 587-6168, AWOJ@koreaembassy.org   Cordula Everett, Austrian Cultural Forum Washington (202) 895-6772, cordula.everett@bmeia.gv.at

Explore the evolution of Korean contemporary art!   The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. (KCCDC) and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA) present two special 30-minute screenings of MMCA curator talks that explore how Korean art developed in the 20th century to become one of the world’s hottest art scenes today.   Inside Korean Art highlights key examples from current exhibitions in Korea and features MMCA expert curators as they outline major trends and changes in the past century of Korean art, from the early twentieth century to the postwar emergence of abstraction and experimental art. Guests can also join an in-person introduction and Q&A with the KCCDC’s own art curator while browsing the contemporary art exhibition Connecting Lines after the screenings.    Presented here for the first time with full English subtitles, the MMCA talks provide valuable context and are a complement to understanding Connecting Lines, currently on view at KCCDC. Each screening is designed to provide a broader picture of the history and development of modern and contemporary Korean art that forms the foundation of these artists’ innovative practices.   Part 1 on May 22 presents a conversation between the curators on MMCA’s permanent exhibition collection, introducing key artists and major artistic movements across different periods from the early 1900s to today. Part 2 on May 29 explores influential post-war Korean artist collectives such as the Modern Art Association (1957–1960), one of the first independent artist groups in Korea which helped shape the abstract visual language of future generations. After each screening, guests are invited to browse Connecting Lines and chat with the curator.   Experience Inside Korean Art and the exhibition Connecting Lines in concert and gain a profound new appreciation for the modern and contemporary art of Korea.   Inside Korean Art: Screening & Curator Talks May 22 & 29 at 6:00 PM (both days) Korean Cultural Center Washington, DC Part 1: Introduction to Modern and Contemporary Korean Art (May 22) | RSVP Part 2: Focus on 1950 – 1960s Korean Art (May 29) | RSVP Timeline (both dates): 6:00 PM: Introduction to Korean Art and Connecting Lines 6:10 PM: Inside Korean Art (screening) 6:40 PM: Connecting Lines exhibition self-guided tour and Q&A   All screenings are presented in Korean with English subtitles. Part 1: Introduction to Modern and Contemporary Korean Art May 22 at 6:00 PM RSVP FOR THIS EVENT! Modern and contemporary Korean art is often divided around the period following the Korean War in the 1950s, and MMCA’s Gwacheon branch has organized its permanent exhibition around the year 1950. This talk by MMCA Curators Yi Soojung and Lee Hyunju discusses both works from before the 1950s, in chronological order, and Korean art post-1950, organized by both historical periods and artistic themes, highlighting the characteristics of different artists and movements. In this screening, two MMCA curators guide viewers through the branch’s exhibition galleries and introduce their overall structure and themes.   Part 2: Focus on 1950 – 1960s Korean Art May 29 at 6:00 PM RSVP FOR THIS EVENT! Korean modern art underwent significant changes following the 1950-53 Korean War, particularly through the emergence of artist collectives formed in the late 1950s and the 1960s. MMCA’s Cheongju branch presents an exhibition exploring these groups, including the Modern Art Association (1957–1960), one of the first independent artist groups in Korea.   The exhibition introduces artists who challenged the realism-centered National Art Exhibition of Korea (Kukjeon) and experimented with abstraction and modernist practices while developing their own distinctive visual language. This talk by MMCA Curator Lee Hyojin will help viewers explore how these artist collectives contributed to the development of Korean abstract art and laid the foundation for future contemporary Korean art.

The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. (KCCDC) and the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA) invite you to a series of hands-on workshops exploring traditional Korean crafts and cultural practices, presented in partnership with the National Folk Museum of Korea (NFMK). Led by Youngjae Kim, former Senior Curator at the National Folk Museum of Korea, each session offers a unique opportunity to learn about Korean traditions while handling or creating your own handcrafted items including the daenggi (댕기) decorative hair ribbon, jangmyeongru (장명루) five-colored longevity bracelet, and bojagi (보자기) wrapping cloth. Participants will explore traditional materials, embedded symbolism, and crafting techniques through engaging, hands-on activities. This program is supported by and presented in cooperation with the National Folk Museum of Korea.     PLEASE NOTE: An RSVP is required for each session and space is limited. Participants are asked to kindly RSVP for only one session (at either the KCCDC or NMAA) to maximize overall participation. Two additional sessions on May 26 and 27 are by invitation only and not listed below.    Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. 2370 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. Main Public Session Wednesday, May 27, 5:00 – 7:00 PM RSVP FOR THIS EVENT! NEW! Family-Oriented Session Wednesday, May 27, 2:00 – 4:00 PM RSVP FOR THIS EVENT! These two sessions will focus on introducing and crafting the daenggi (댕기) decorative hair ribbon and jangmyeongru (장명루) five-colored longevity bracelet. ●Sew and decorate a traditional daenggi using gold foil ●Make a jangmyeongru, symbolizing health and protection ●Optional: Try on traditional Korean hanbok clothing   National Museum of Asian Art 1050 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, D.C. Thursday, May 28, 1:00 – 3:00 PM RSVP FOR THIS EVENT!   This session will focus on introducing and crafting the bojagi (보자기) wrapping cloth and jangmyeongru (장명루) five-colored longevity bracelet. ●Learn six different traditional bojagi wrapping techniques, each with unique artistic appearance ●Make a jangmyeongru, symbolizing health and protection ●Optional: Try on traditional Korean hanbok clothing About the Instructor and Crafts Youngjae Kim is a former Senior Curator at the National Folk Museum of Korea with over 20 years of experience in Korean traditional attire and cultural heritage. She currently leads research and cultural programs through the Hansan Research Institute.   Daenggi (댕기) This traditional Korean ribbon is used to adorn a traditional Korean hair braid for women and is often made of silk and with gold or silver foil patterns. Participants will complete stitching, apply decorative motifs, and learn how to wear the daenggi. See an example video here!    Jangmyeongru (장명루) This five-colored braided bracelet symbolizes health, protection, and longevity. Participants will create their own bracelet that integrates this traditional color symbolism. See an example video here!    Bojagi (보자기) Bojagi is an icon of traditional Korean culture. This versatile and beautiful wrapping cloth is rooted in women’s domestic culture, where many everyday household objects were carefully crafted with both form and function in mind. Influenced by royal traditions of the Joseon Dynasty, bojagi reflects both practicality and aesthetic refinement. Reusable and eco-friendly, it embodies flexibility, creativity, and the beauty of thoughtful wrapping without waste. In this workshop, participants will explore a variety of bojagi fabrics, colors, and patterns while learning how different wrapping styles can create unique forms and expressions. Each participant will discover their own style through hands-on practice and creative experimentation. Participants will receive a mystery box to create their own magical bojagi, with each result offering a unique surprise. See example videos here and here!