Seoul City will expand its program offering free K-pop dance classes to tourists as part of its efforts to better boost the hallyu industry, officials said Thursday.

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon and SM Entertainment reached a deal to offer the free K-pop dance classes.

Since August, renowned SM choreographers have run the dance programs for foreign visitors twice a week at Coex in the capital city. While the maximum number of participants is 450 a year, over 850 already applied for the program as of this month, officials said.

While expanding the free dance classes, the city vowed to diversify the free courses to song and language programs and broadcast tours.

The mayor also pledged to set up 10 hallyu sightseeing tours in the city by early next year.

To promote better access to the Seoul tourism information, the city will also provide Seoul City’s tourism data to potential mobile application start-ups, officials said.

By Lee Hyun-jeong (rene@heraldcorp.com)