Popular Music and Counterculture in South Korea

The Korean Wave (hallyu) has been sweeping across Asia and the world since the 1990s. Korean soap operas, variety shows, popular music and movies have enjoyed phenomenal success in neighboring countries such as Japan and China and are beginning to develop a wide following in the West. Last year's "Gangnam Style", a rap song parodying Korea's nouveau riche, unexpectedly became a world-wide smash hit. Is Korean pop music representing or subverting mainstream Korean culture? Join ASIABU for a Tea Talk with Professor Yoon Sun Yang from the Modern Languages and Comparative Literature (MLCL) department on popular music and counterculture in South Korea. Prof. Yang will present on this topic, followed by a Q&A session. The popular Korean food Kim Bop will be served.