K-POP Expands Educational Programs to Japan as Korea’s Iconic Image Ranks First for 7 Consecutive Years

K-POP’s global influence is now extending into educational settings as well. Professional schools in Japan have introduced formal K-POP education programs, solidifying Korea’s status as the world’s top cultural icon for seven straight years. One school in Niigata Prefecture, Japan, includes dancing to K-POP music as part of its regular curriculum. The K-POP Entertainment Department at the “International Music Dance Entertainment College,” established in October 2017, was the first institution in Japan to offer a comprehensive K-POP course, aiming to train Japanese students interested in pursuing careers in the K-POP industry. The school runs exchange programs with Korean schools and supports students by helping them study abroad in Korea to gain hands-on experience through street performances. According to surveys conducted among foreigners, K-POP has been the most frequently chosen image associated with Korea for seven consecutive years. A large record store in central Tokyo dedicates an entire floor out of its eight-story building to K-POP products, reflecting the overwhelming impact of K-POP across the music industry. Driven by K-POP’s popularity, the culture of mimicking its choreography is spreading beyond Korea to other parts of the world. Major performances by several mega-star groups are scheduled in London by 2025. Hallyu refers to the phenomenon of Korea’s cultural exports gaining global popularity, spanning from K-beauty to K-dramas. The V&A Museum in London even held a Hallyu exhibition in 2022 to showcase this trend. BTS sparked the K-POP boom in 2018 with two sold-out concerts at London’s O2 Arena, while BLACKPINK became the first K-POP group to headline a UK music festival at BST Hyde Park in 2023, performing in front of 65,000 fans. In 2024, SEVENTEEN made history by performing at Glastonbury as the first K-POP group to do so. Experts argue that since K-POP functions as a national symbol with worldwide prominence, it is necessary to evaluate its impact more closely. They note that K-content is not merely a means of generating profits but also exerts a significant influence on youth around the globe, serving as a medium that provides dreams and community experiences for many.