The Korea Culture and Content Agency, an affiliate of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, has decided to sponsor the overseas advancement of Korean artists, including Shin Seung-hoon, Hwi-seong and the group Next, who were selected for the agency`s 2005 project to produce music content for export. Shin Seung-hoon and Next will each receive 30 million won for the production of music videos for export, while Hwi-seong will receive the same amount to produce a new album.

Shin plans to use the money to produce a music video for his song `I Believe,` which is the title song of his new album due out July 6. And Hwi-seong, who is preparing to make a debut in Japan this year, will invest the received amount into producing an album targeting foreign listeners.

"We selected artists that have great potential to succeed overseas, especially in the Asian market where the popularity of `hallyu` stars is high. In terms of genre, we focused mainly on albums as well as original soundtracks and music videos, which have all become very popular recently," said an official from the Korea Culture and Content Agency. He also added that the agency placed priority on popular music rather than classical music because the former is likely to be more effective in publicizing Korean culture.

The five selected artists in the album category include Travel Sketches, Clazziquai and traditional musician Kim Deok-su; the two selected productions in the original soundtrack category include the music from the drama `A Staircase to Heaven`; and the three selected artists in the music video category include the singer The One.