Bucheon City of Literature

About the Academy

The Bucheon Storytelling Academy is a one-year educational program established and fully funded by the City of Bucheon to nurture the next generation of professional storytellers for the cultural and creative industries.
The Academy develops the fundamental storytelling skills required for creating narratives across all media and genres—including literature, film, television, webtoons, web novels, theatre, documentaries, and digital content. By fostering creative thinking, narrative design, and practical writing skills, it prepares creators who will contribute to the rapidly evolving cultural and content industries in the digital era.

Established in March 2022, the Academy admits 40 students annually and is operated as a non-degree educational institution. Graduates receive an official certificate awarded by the Mayor of Bucheon.

Program Overview

• Duration: One year (four semesters)
• Enrollment: 40 students per year
• Schedule: Evening program (Tuesday & Thursday, 7:00–9:50 PM)
• Class Format: Two classes per week
• Location: Lecture room at Webtoon Convergence Center
  (approximately a 10-minute walk from Samsan Gymnasium Station, Exit 5, Subway Line 7)
  • For the 4th cohort (September 2025–June 2026), each semester has been adjusted from 11 weeks to 8 weeks, with corresponding revisions to course offerings and class organization.

Educational Philosophy

The Academy emphasizes the universal principles of storytelling that transcend academic disciplines, media, and genres. Rather than focusing on a single field of study, it explores storytelling in its broadest sense—from fiction and literary narratives to documentaries, biographies, historical writing, journalism, webtoons, screenplays, and other forms of creative and practical communication.

Its curriculum combines theory with intensive hands-on practice, placing greater emphasis on developing creative ability than on acquiring theoretical knowledge alone. Students strengthen their skills through writing workshops, collaborative projects, individual mentoring, peer critiques, and professional guidance.

The advanced stage offers genre-specific instruction in small groups led by experienced practitioners, complemented by mentoring sessions, guest lectures, creative workshops, and opportunities to present work publicly. Students are also encouraged to participate in recognized storytelling competitions and publish or showcase their graduation projects.

Supported entirely by the City of Bucheon, the Academy seeks to cultivate outstanding storytellers while strengthening connections with local cultural and creative industries.

Curriculum

The program consists of four semesters, divided into a Foundation Program and an Advanced Program.