2025 Cultural Partnership Initiative (CPI)
Education and Training Program for Overseas Librarians
Program Description and Application Guidelines

※ Please read this guideline carefully before you fill out the application form.

Since 2005, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Korea has been implementing a long‐term cultural exchange project called the Cultural Partnership Initiative (CPI) in order to promote intercultural ties and understanding among countries around the world.

The National Library of Korea (NLK) is a affiliated organization of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Korea. As part of the CPI program, the National Library of Korea has been running the Education and Training Program for Overseas librarians since 2006. So far, 63 librarians from 23 countries have participated in the program.

Starting in 2025, the 4-month training program has been changed to a 1-week workshop, and the number of participants has increased to 6. Through individual presentations on various topics, participants will be able to more effectively understand the current status of both libraries in Korea and libraries in their home countries, as well as engage in professional exchange.

1. Workshop Information

The objective of this workshop is to enhance cultural ties between Korea and other countries, and to foster librarians who can provide Korea-related information services at overseas libraries. The workshop provides library and information science professionals with the special lecture from the National Library of Korea, individual research presentation opportunities, specialized lectures on Korean Culture and a valuable experience of Korean culture.

Workshop Participants and Duration

· Participants: Up to 6 librarians from different Official Development Assistance (ODA) countries

· Duration: October 13~17, 2025

Workshop Highlights

· Professional librarian program

- Special Lectures from the National Library of Korea

- Lectures on Understanding Korean Culture

- Individual research presentation opportunities

- Library tours (including NLK)

· Experiencing Korean culture

- Field trip, visiting heritage sites etc.

2. Application Requirements

· Application Deadline
All materials must be submitted to National Library of Korea by April 25, 2025

· Selection Criteria

· Currently employed at a library (candidate with experience in digital library services is preferred)

· At least 2 years of experiences as a librarian

· Recommendation from the current head of the library

· Fluency in conversational Korean or English and a reading proficiency of Korean or English. (The Individual research presentation is delivered in English.)

· Willingness and ability to share what is learned while at National Library of Korea with other participants from various countries and institutions

· Excellent communication skills

· Institution that wishes to cooperate actively with the NLK and provide active support when the NLK visits the institution for exchange

· The participant’s home institution’s demonstrated commitment to support sharing activities (Training seminars, workshops, etc.).

· Application Information

· Applications must be complete, received within the stated deadline, include all required attachments, and contain official confirmation.

· Applicants can send scanned copies of all documents via email. Selected participants will be requested to send the original documents via post mail later on.

· The application form must be completed in Korean or English, and should be typewritten.

· Please submit the following documents by order. All documents must be submitted in Korean or in English only. (If there are documents only available in your native language, their Korean or English translations must be submitted also.)

· Additional Application Information

· All materials must be submitted in Korean or English.

· National Library of Korea reserves the right to verify all information provided in the application.

· Documents will NOT be returned to the applicant.

· Short-listed applicants will be interviewed by telephone for selecting the final participants.

· All participants have the responsibility and duty to abide by all rules and instructions, and to completely focus on the workshop.

· Further instructions will be provided to the participants before the workshop starts.

· Participants are required to attend the workshop from October 13 to 17, 2025, and late participation or early departure will not be allowed.

· All schedule can be changed depending on the situation.

3. Information

If you would like to know more about the workshop, please feel free to contact us via email below.

· National Library of Korea: www.nl.go.kr

· International Network for Korean Studies Librarians: inkslib.nl.go.kr