K-Pop and the Global Stage

What began as a regional experiment in South Korea has become one of the defining cultural forces of the 21st century.

This course traces how K-pop evolved from a tightly managed domestic industry into a global phenomenon that has transformed how popular culture is produced and consumed.

We’ll examine the production systems behind idol groups, the transnational creative networks that sustain them, and the fan communities redefining what it means to be an audience in the digital age.

Situating K-pop within the broader history of modern Asia, the course explores how cultural “soft power” operates through media, aesthetics, and shared imagination rather than formal politics.

Case studies include music videos and media such as KPop Demon Hunters , which playfully reimagines idol culture through mythology and genre storytelling.

Drawing on scholarship, journalism, and conversations with leading experts, students will gain insight into how Asian popular music illuminates globalization, identity, and cultural influence today.