2,200 Attendees at Hanyang University’s International Winter School; 7-Year U.S. Podcast Documentation; Rise of New K-POP Groups in NYC Communities...K-POP Evolving into Educational, Community-Focused Formats

The global spread of K-POP culture is expanding into various fields such as education, media, and club culture. Approximately 2,200 international students from 44 countries participated in Hanyang University’s “International Winter School,” setting a record for the largest attendance in its history. Session A took place offline from last month’s 24th to January 10th, while Session B was conducted online from February 2nd to February 15th, each lasting two weeks. A total of 78 courses were offered across six categories, including engineering, business, and Korean studies. K-POP dance was identified as the most popular general education class at this winter school. Under the guidance of professional instructors, students learned dynamic choreographies, which helped to melt the cold of winter. Additionally, opportunities to experience Korean culture were provided, such as glow parties and two-day ski trips. In the United States, a media outlet dedicated to documenting K-POP culture has been operating for seven years. Shannon Locke and Angélica Davila, hosts of the podcast “Ask Me About Kpop,” launched the show in 2018 to explain K-POP. Through nearly 300 episodes, they have documented the evolution of this genre. Initially planned as a short series, it has grown into a seven-year project. Early episodes covered the structure of idol groups, musical concepts, and the three major entertainment companies—SM, YG, and JYP Entertainment—that dominate the industry. The first episode in 2018 came out during the PyeongChang Winter Olympics held in South Korea. It was released as articles asking “What is K-POP?” flooded media outlets following performances by artists like CL and EXO at the opening ceremony, and it answered those questions from a fan’s perspective. Locke said, “We started with the mission of teaching people everything we knew about K-POP, but we quickly realized we were learning far more than we had initially planned.” Davila explained, “The first episode was released when the PyeongChang Winter Olympics were in Korea, and CL and EXO performed at the opening ceremony. Our show provided answers to that question from a fan’s point of view.” The podcast covers a wide range of industry topics, including stories about disbanded girl groups, interviews with composers of hit songs like EXO’s “Monster,” and guest appearances by K-POP groups such as BLITZERS and ONEUS. In New York’s club culture, a new type of K-POP group has emerged. Sammy Kim and KA WAI, co-founders of the K-POP club party “BIAS,” created a space where K-POP fans can dance to curated track mixes, watch performances, and participate in choreography competitions. This community is particularly recognized as a safe and enjoyable environment centered around QTBIPOC (Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, People of Color). At BIAS’s next event, DJs from New York, Seoul, and Tokyo will present their own interpretations of K-POP, with a special performance scheduled for the later part of the night. KHSS, pronounced “KISS,” is an all-queer Korean group composed of Kim Lips, Henry Bae, Sammy Kim, and Snix, active in New York. KHSS’s performance is a 10-minute K-POP medley prepared over the past three months, marking their official Comeback at Elsewhere’s Main Hall. Snix said, “KHSS is an unjudged queer Korean group of four members active in New York. This performance is the most ambitious we have ever prepared.” KHSS originated in July 2023 when friends gathered to dance to K-POP songs. It took shape when BIAS planned a party for BLACKPINK’s world tour at MetLife.