Project: Discovering Seoul, Sharing Cities

ICOM CITIES invites applications from early-career members (under 40) for a travel grant to attend a preparatory program for the ICOM CITIES Annual Conference 2027 in Seoul, Republic of Korea.

The selected participant will explore Seoul’s past and present through the Seoul Museum of History and the city, and contribute to developing Seoul exploration content and promotional strategies for the 2027 Annual Conference.

Grant Details

• Number of grants: 1
• Grant amount: €1,200 (provided on a reimbursement basis)
• Location: Seoul, Republic of Korea, and the Seoul Museum of History
• Travel period: A minimum of four weekdays between the fourth week of November and the first week of December 2026

Important Note: The grant recipient must cover expenses upfront and submit valid receipts and supporting documents for reimbursement. Any expenses exceeding the €1,200 grant must be covered by the participant.

Application and Deadline

All individual members of ICOM CITIES are welcome to apply.

All applications must include:

• the completed and signed application form
• a maximum of 500 words of cover letter
• a maximum 500-word statement of the applicant’s motivation for attending the annual meeting and the benefits which he/she expects to derive from it
• the applicant’s curriculum vitae indicating training, work experience, publications as well as current work responsibilities within their institution (maximum one page)
• a copy of an ICOM ID card

Applicants should send their application form and listed documents to:  secretary.cities@icom.museum

Please download the application form here.

Application deadline: 30 October 2026, 00:00 CET.

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How to Become an ICOM and CAMOC Member

To become a member of CAMOC, please become a member of ICOM first.

Please note: As an ICOM member, log in to the memberspace and select CAMOC as your International Committee.

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Key Responsibilities and Deliverables

The selected participant will contribute to the preparation of the ICOM CITIES Annual Conference 2027 through the following activities:

1. Explore Seoul’s Museums and Urban History

The participant will visit the Seoul Museum of History, including its Permanent Exhibition, Special Exhibition, and Children’s Museum, as well as selected branch museums, such as the Seoul Urban Life Museum, Cheonggyecheon Museum, Gongpyeong Historic Site Museum, and Insa Historic Site Museum.

An orientation session will introduce the relationship between the Seoul Museum of History and ICOM CITIES, the conference theme and schedule, with a particular focus on the objectives of the preparatory program.

2. Develop a Seoul Exploration Map or Handbook

The participant will research and identify places that are not typically featured on conventional tourist maps, highlighting destinations they find interesting from an international youth perspective.

The participant will research and organize relevant information and materials to develop a Seoul exploration map or handbook for conference participants. The final outcome will be presented on the last day of the program.

The map will be developed around the theme “Seoul: Past vs. Present,” drawing on visits to the Seoul Museum of History, the Seoul Urban Life Museum, and other urban sites.

3. Contribute to Conference Promotion

The participant will brainstorm and share ideas for promoting the 2027 Annual Conference both domestically and internationally. This may include new platforms, content, promotional materials, and merchandise.

The participant will also provide feedback on the Seoul Museum of History experience, identifying what international visitors found memorable or convenient and what could be improved.

4. Develop Seoul Walking Tour Content

The participant will explore potential walking routes and contribute to developing a walking tour program for conference participants, potentially in collaboration with Seoul Guided Walking Tours and the Seoul Tourism Organization.

Suggested routes include:

• Palaces: Deoksugung Palace, Gyeongbokgung Palace, Gyeonghuigung Palace, and Seodaemun.
• Night walks: Cheonggyecheon Stream and Changgyeonggung Palace.
• Urban walks: Bukchon Hanok Village, Seochon historic alleyways, and Modern Times in Jeong-dong.
• City walls: Naksan City Wall Trail.

Drawing on their exploration experiences, the participant will help develop a walking tour program that incorporates stories and historical narratives related to the Seoul Museum of History’s branch museums, design the route, and write the accompanying tour script. Collaboration with the Seoul Tourism Organization is subject to confirmation.

Criteria

All applicants should be:

1. 40 years of age or under.
2. able to write and understand English fluently.
3. able to stay in Seoul for at least 4 weekdays and participate full-time in the program.
4. individual members of ICOM and ICOM CITIES
5. aware that priority will be given to young members (≤ 40 years) from countries belonging to Categories 2, 3, 4 and 5 (as defined in the membership grid available at the following address): https://www.icom-cc.org/en/downloads/icom-country-categories-2026
6. aware that young members who have received grants in the last three years (2023, 2024 and 2025) will not be given priority for a grant in 2026.

All applications must include:

• the completed and signed application form
• a maximum of 500 words of cover letter
• a maximum 500-word statement of the applicant’s motivation for attending the annual meeting and the benefits which he/she expects to derive from it
• the applicant’s curriculum vitae indicating training, work experience, publications as well as current work responsibilities within his/her institution (maximum one page)
• a copy of an ICOM ID card

In awarding grants, priority will be given to those applicants:

• who show a good understanding of the benefits to be derived from attending the Preparation of the ICOM CITIES Annual Conference 2027 in Seoul.
• who come from countries belonging to Categories 4, 3 and 2 of the grid defined by ICOM, available at: https://www.icom-cc.org/en/downloads/icom-country-categories-2026, and who may obtain other sources of funding to facilitate their attendance at the meeting.
• who are able to design the draft of PR materials.

Each grantee will be required to submit a report and/or a questionnaire within two weeks following the program, stating his/her experience and contribution to ICOM activities and its International Committee.

The resources for this program are limited. Applicants are required to comply with the eligibility criteria stated in this document.

If you have any related questions, please contact the ICOM CITIES International Committee at:

Jaekyung Lee(Ms.), ICOM CITIES Secretary

secretary.camoc.icom@gmail.com / j.lee@seoul.go.kr