> Source: https://thecastindex.com/modelling/south-korea — application routes checked 2026-10-01. Generated at build time from the same data the page serves.

# How to become a model in South Korea

Apply directly through a Seoul agency’s own website. Gost, ESteem, Morph and a.sset take online applications with photos, and JMODEL says office auditions are by reservation only. Under Korean law, businesses that arrange work for popular culture artists must register with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and working hours for performers under 19 are capped.

## Agencies and their official application routes

- **Gost** (Seoul) — online form: http://gostagency.com/sub/consultation.php; height: The form asks for photos only and states no height requirement.; safety: Says it will contact applicants to arrange a free consultation.
- **ESteem** (Seoul) — online form: https://esteemgroup.com/en/apply-carrer/; height: The artist application form states no height requirement.
- **Morph Management** (Seoul) — online form: https://www.morphmgmt.com/get-scouted; height: Height is a required field on the form. The page states no minimum.
- **kin** (Seoul) — online form: https://www.kinkorea.com/join; height: The form asks for height in centimetres. The page states no minimum.
- **a.sset** (Seoul) — online form: https://assetseoul.com/; height: Height is a required field on the Join form. The site states no minimum.
- **JMODEL** (Seoul) — online form: https://jmodelmanagement.co.kr/become-a-model/; open call: Office auditions are not available without a reservation.; height: The form asks for height. The page states no minimum.
- **JS Agency.KR** (Seoul) — online form: http://www.jsagency.kr/become/; height: The form asks for height, chosen from a list. The page states no minimum.

## How agencies recruit

- Seoul agencies take applications through forms on their own websites, usually with a few natural photos. Gost’s form asks for four (front, profile, three-quarter and full length) and says the agency will contact you to arrange a free consultation. (http://gostagency.com/sub/consultation.php)
- Some agencies split their recruitment by board. JMODEL has separate audition email addresses for Asian and international models, and says office auditions are not available without a reservation. (https://jmodelmanagement.co.kr/contacts/)
- Under the Popular Culture and Arts Industry Development Act, anyone running a business that provides or arranges the services of popular culture artists, or trains, guides or counsels them for that purpose, must register with the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism. (https://www.law.go.kr/%EB%B2%95%EB%A0%B9/%EB%8C%80%EC%A4%91%EB%AC%B8%ED%99%94%EC%98%88%EC%88%A0%EC%82%B0%EC%97%85%EB%B0%9C%EC%A0%84%EB%B2%95)
- The Korea Creative Content Agency’s popular culture and arts information system has a public search of registered planning businesses by company name, representative or registration number. (https://ent.kocca.kr/UID/CPI/U002/baseSearch.do)

## Rules on fees, contracts and safeguarding

- Anyone running a “popular culture and arts planning business”, defined as providing or arranging artists’ services or training, guiding or counselling them for that purpose, must register with the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Trading without registration carries up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 20 million won (Articles 2, 26 and 40). Source: https://www.law.go.kr/%EB%B2%95%EB%A0%B9/%EB%8C%80%EC%A4%91%EB%AC%B8%ED%99%94%EC%98%88%EC%88%A0%EC%82%B0%EC%97%85%EB%B0%9C%EC%A0%84%EB%B2%95
- The Act does not name models, so whether a particular modelling agency must register is not stated in terms. Its Enforcement Decree lists “productions using images” among the covered productions, alongside broadcast programmes, film, music and some live performances (Decree Article 2). Source: https://www.law.go.kr/%EB%B2%95%EB%A0%B9/%EB%8C%80%EC%A4%91%EB%AC%B8%ED%99%94%EC%98%88%EC%88%A0%EC%82%B0%EC%97%85%EB%B0%9C%EC%A0%84%EB%B2%95%EC%8B%9C%ED%96%89%EB%A0%B9
- Planning businesses and their staff must not give false information or make false promises when recruiting artists, and registered academies that train would-be artists must not make false claims about agency services when recruiting students. Breaches carry fines of up to 10 million won (Articles 15 and 41). Source: https://www.law.go.kr/%EB%B2%95%EB%A0%B9/%EB%8C%80%EC%A4%91%EB%AC%B8%ED%99%94%EC%98%88%EC%88%A0%EC%82%B0%EC%97%85%EB%B0%9C%EC%A0%84%EB%B2%95
- The Act treats anyone under 19 as a youth. Under-15s may work on productions for no more than 35 hours a week and not between 10pm and 6am, except until midnight before a school holiday with their own and a parent’s or guardian’s consent. Those aged 15 and over are capped at 40 hours a week (extendable by up to one hour a day and six a week by agreement) and need their own and a parent’s or guardian’s consent to work between 10pm and 6am. The weekly caps do not apply to justified cases such as travel for overseas work (Articles 2, 22 and 23). Source: https://www.law.go.kr/%EB%B2%95%EB%A0%B9/%EB%8C%80%EC%A4%91%EB%AC%B8%ED%99%94%EC%98%88%EC%88%A0%EC%82%B0%EC%97%85%EB%B0%9C%EC%A0%84%EB%B2%95
- Contracts with under-19s must include measures protecting their health, schooling, sleep and rest, and businesses must not force them into excessive exposure, missing school, unsafe work or excessive appearance management (Article 21). Source: https://www.law.go.kr/%EB%B2%95%EB%A0%B9/%EB%8C%80%EC%A4%91%EB%AC%B8%ED%99%94%EC%98%88%EC%88%A0%EC%82%B0%EC%97%85%EB%B0%9C%EC%A0%84%EB%B2%95
- Contracts for artists’ services must be in writing and signed by both sides, covering the term, each side’s rights, the scope of work, revenue sharing, dispute resolution and protection of child and youth artists. The ministry prepares standard contracts in consultation with the Fair Trade Commission (Articles 7 and 8). We found no Korean rule written specifically about agencies charging aspiring models to apply. Source: https://www.law.go.kr/%EB%B2%95%EB%A0%B9/%EB%8C%80%EC%A4%91%EB%AC%B8%ED%99%94%EC%98%88%EC%88%A0%EC%82%B0%EC%97%85%EB%B0%9C%EC%A0%84%EB%B2%95

## Official model searches

- Elite Model Look 2026 (Korea, via the international entry site): https://www.elitemodellook.com/int/en/about/2026/index.htm — Korea is listed for the 2026 edition and routes to the international entry site rather than a national one. Entries run from 1 January to 31 December 2026; entrants must be 14 or over, with written consent from a parent or guardian if under 18, and upload three photos (full body, portrait and waist up).

## FAQ

### Do Seoul modelling agencies charge to apply?

None of the application pages we read asks for a fee, and Gost’s form says it will arrange a free consultation. We found no Korean rule written specifically about application fees, but the Popular Culture and Arts Industry Development Act bars planning businesses from giving false information or making false promises when recruiting.

### How can I check a Korean agency is registered?

The Korea Creative Content Agency’s popular culture and arts information system has a public search of registered planning businesses by name, representative or registration number. Registration is required for popular culture and arts planning businesses, though the Act does not say in terms whether every modelling agency counts as one.

### What photos do Seoul agencies ask for?

Natural photos rather than a professional portfolio. Gost asks for four (front, profile, three-quarter and full length), Morph for a headshot, full-length and profile shot, and a.sset for a head-and-shoulders and a full-body photo.

### Are there rules for models under 19 in South Korea?

The Popular Culture and Arts Industry Development Act caps work on productions at 35 hours a week for under-15s and 40 hours for older teenagers. Under-15s may not work between 10pm and 6am except until midnight before a school holiday with consent, and older teenagers need their own and a parent’s or guardian’s consent for night work. Contracts must protect schooling, sleep and rest.

### Can I apply to a Seoul agency from abroad?

Several Seoul agencies run international boards. JMODEL has a separate audition email address for international models, and the Morph and JS Agency.KR forms ask for your country. None of the application pages we read sets out visa or right-to-work rules, so ask the agency directly.

### Is Elite Model Look open in South Korea?

Yes. Korea is listed for Elite Model Look 2026, with entries made through the international site until 31 December 2026. Entrants must be 14 or over, and under-18s need written consent from a parent or guardian.

## Sources

- Gost — Be Another Species application form: http://gostagency.com/sub/consultation.php
- ESteem — Apply: https://esteemgroup.com/en/apply-carrer/
- Morph Management — Get Scouted: https://www.morphmgmt.com/get-scouted
- kin — Join: https://www.kinkorea.com/join
- a.sset — official site: https://assetseoul.com/
- JMODEL — Become a Model: https://jmodelmanagement.co.kr/become-a-model/
- JMODEL — Contacts: https://jmodelmanagement.co.kr/contacts/
- JS Agency.KR — Become: http://www.jsagency.kr/become/
- Korea Law Information Center — Popular Culture and Arts Industry Development Act: https://www.law.go.kr/%EB%B2%95%EB%A0%B9/%EB%8C%80%EC%A4%91%EB%AC%B8%ED%99%94%EC%98%88%EC%88%A0%EC%82%B0%EC%97%85%EB%B0%9C%EC%A0%84%EB%B2%95
- Korea Law Information Center — Enforcement Decree of the Popular Culture and Arts Industry Development Act: https://www.law.go.kr/%EB%B2%95%EB%A0%B9/%EB%8C%80%EC%A4%91%EB%AC%B8%ED%99%94%EC%98%88%EC%88%A0%EC%82%B0%EC%97%85%EB%B0%9C%EC%A0%84%EB%B2%95%EC%8B%9C%ED%96%89%EB%A0%B9
- KOCCA — 대중문화예술종합정보시스템, registered business search: https://ent.kocca.kr/UID/CPI/U002/baseSearch.do
- Elite Model Look 2026 — countries: https://www.elitemodellook.com/int/en/about/2026/index.htm
- Elite Model Look 2026 — terms and conditions: https://www.elitemodellook.com/int/en/terms/index.htm