Korea's 'Baewouitda' actor audition-networking event returns Sept 9-10 in Daehak-ro for its 5th edition

Fifth edition moves to Daehak-ro as networking seats sell out instantly

The 5th '배우 잇다 오디션·배우 잇담 커넥트' runs September 9–10 at 예술가의 집 (Artists' House) in Daehak-ro, Seoul. The event launched in 2022. This year it's moving venues—the 4th edition was at COEX—to what organizers call a symbolic center of Korean performing arts.

Networking seats for '배우 잇담 커넥트' sold out the moment registration opened. On the audition side, '배우 잇다' uses a "multiple work application system." Actors meet with several production companies and creative teams instead of competing for a single role. It's a deliberate break from the pass/fail format of conventional auditions.

The event welcomes working actors, mid-career and veteran actors exploring career changes, child and teen performers, prospective actors, and regional actors.

Hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Arts Management Support Center, and the Korea Arts Welfare Foundation. Planning and management fall to the Korean Theatre Actors Association. It runs alongside the Arts Management Support Center's 2026 Arts Job Fair.

This year's slogan: "Not a copy, but YOUR ORIGINAL."

The mentor lineup and what organizers are saying

Six field experts are confirmed as mentors ('잇담러'):

• Kim Dong-ho, former executive director of the Busan International Film Festival
• Choi Hyung-in, chair professor at Hanyang University
• Actor Jeon No-min
• Lee Hyun-woo, Shakespeare specialist and professor at Soonchunhyang University
• Lim Dae-il, Korean Theatre Actors Association director
• Shin Ba-ram, Korean Theatre Actors Association executive director

Lim Dae-il chairs the organizing committee. He put the event's purpose plainly: "What actors truly need is not a momentary acceptance notification, but a sustainable job and career connection structure."

Shin Ba-ram framed the two-part format this way: "If '배우 잇다' connects actors with works and jobs, then '배우 잇담' connects people to people."

The Korean Theatre Actors Association has also stated a goal of highlighting the artistic value of actors that remains difficult to replace in the AI era. It's part of a broader push to build a sustainable arts ecosystem.