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Busan Youth Showcase “Musical Shirts” as the City Expands Support for Young Artists

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that “Musical Shirts” (SHIRT, directed by Park Yong-hee), which was selected as the top production under the 2025 Young Directors’ Production Support Program supporting the creative and performance activities of young artists, will be staged on November 29 and 30 at the Busan Culture Center’s Medium Theater.

This work explores themes of “humanity” and “happiness” through the encounter between a flawless new employee and an artificial-intelligence assistant robot in a highly competitive society.

The city selected three teams through an open call and presentation (PT) review in March of this year, then finalized the top production after an in-person showcase evaluation held in July.

Tickets can be reserved through Interpark Ticket, and performances will take place at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on November 29, and at 4 p.m. on November 30.

Meanwhile, throughout the year, the city has been promoting the Youth Culture Development Support Program with a total budget of KRW 900 million across four sectors—creative activities, spaces, networks, and promotion—to support the growth of local young artists.

In particular, the “Young Directors’ Production Support Program,” a core initiative within creative activities support, has been run annually through an open call since 2014. It provides KRW 10 million to each selected team for showcase production and KRW 50 million for the final top production. The program has so far discovered 46 young directors in Busan, with notable works including “1976 Harlan County” (directed by Yoo Byeong-eun, 2016) and “I Am Not an Independence Fighter” (directed by Cha Seung-ho, 2019).

The city will also continue various youth culture programs through the end of the year. Events include the “Youth Art Fair” from December 5 to 14, the “Three Young Artists Exhibition” from December 9 to 21, and the “Youth Culture Development Outcome Sharing Session” on December 21, each highlighting the achievements of young artists and contributing to sustained cultural vitality through year-end.

Detailed information about each event is available on the Busan Cultural Foundation’s website at www.bscf.or.kr and Instagram (@bscf2009).

Kim Gui-ok, Director General of the city’s Youth Industry Bureau, stated, “We will continue to strengthen full-cycle support for the youth cultural ecosystem—from creation and performance to audience engagement and distribution—so that Busan can establish itself as a leading city of youth culture.”