NEW HAVEN, Connecticut — At Yale University, K-pop is not just a global music phenomenon -- it is the subject of serious academic inquiry. During the recent two-day K-Pop: Musical Production and Consumption conference on Thursday and Friday, 160 participants gathered to explore the genre’s history, industry dynamics and cultural impact. Among them were students from one of Yale’s five K-pop-related courses, including a class taught by Grace Kao, an IBM professor of sociology and professor of ethnicity, race and migration.
With K-pop lectures now a staple at one of the world’s most prestigious universities, The Korea Herald set out to uncover what Yale students are learning about the genre, how they were introduced to its vibrant world and what they hope to gain from these classes. Kao began teaching her K-pop seminar in spring 2021. Offered as part of a first-year program, the class is limited to 15 students.
“The class is titled ‘Race and Place in British New Wave, K-Pop and Beyond.’ It is about how popular music moves across national borders via technology and people,” Kao said. “It is also about how popular music reflects society and how governments regulate it or use it as a form of soft power.
” Students are required to watch 25 to 30 K-pop music videos weekly before class, analyzing their genre, historical context and connections to global music trends. Kao’s syllabus goes beyond popular contemporary idols like BTS, NewJeans and Stray Kids, delving .
