logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2021
36m 24s

The K-Pop Wave

Kerning Cultures Network
About this episode

Since 2012, Korean pop culture has captured the imagination of people across the Middle East: from K-pop and K-dramas to Korean language classes and even to Korean fried chicken. It's everywhere!

But how did we become so obsessed with a culture so different from our own? And how much do we actually know about how it spread to our region?

This week on Kerning Cultures, we dive into the highly calculated forces behind the K-pop craze.

Support this podcast on patreon.com/kerningcultures for as little as $1 a month.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Jul 2023
So…what are we thinking?
If you have been enjoying this podcast, we want to hear from you! ⁠⁠Understanding who you, our dear listeners, are helps us make decisions as we continue to grow at the Kerning Cultures Network. Help us understand you better by filling this short survey linked below, it won’t tak ... Show More
59s
May 2023
Mo Amer: Stand-Up Comedian and Actor
We’re thrilled to share another podcast from Kerning Cultures Network with you: al empire.al empire returns for Season 3 with more stories of exceptional Arabs from around the world and their journey to the top, from comedians and entrepreneurs to musicians and media mavericks. T ... Show More
26m 28s
Apr 2023
Aizen – Epilogue
Since our series about 'Aizen' ended, many of you have been in touch asking for an update on his story. When we left you at the end of the last episode, he had arrived in Europe, three years after leaving his home in Kabul and travelling through a labyrinth of smuggler networks. ... Show More
22m 12s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2020
The Dark Story of K-Pop
Korean pop music, or K-pop, originated in South Korea but has become a powerful, global phenomenon. This multi-billion dollar industry manufacturers scores of pitch-perfect idols and groups, performers who become lead trendsetters in the world of fashion, dance, music and more. Y ... Show More
1h 1m
May 2023
K-Pop's Surprising B(l)ackstory
K-pop disrupted pop culture in South Korea in the early 1990s, and later found fans around the world. Vivian Yoon was one of those fans, growing up thousands of miles away in Koreatown, Los Angeles. This week, we're sharing an episode of In K-Pop Dreaming, the second season of LA ... Show More
45m 6s
Jun 2021
K-pop, K-dramas, and K-fever: Why Korean Culture is Booming
In this episode, Dr. Anderson, a South Korean media studies and popular culture expert at George Mason University, tells us how Hallyu - or the Korean Wave - led to the globalization of Korean culture. We discuss how K-pop music and Korean dramas gained worldwide popularity, anal ... Show More
26m 43s
Oct 2020
What is K-Pop?
What is K-Pop? Thanks for asking! On October 15th, Big Hit Entertainment debuted on the Korean stock exchange. If you’re not familiar with the company itself, you’re more likely to have heard of BTS, one of the bands they created. In barely 24 hours, the success of the IPO had ex ... Show More
4m 57s
Oct 2022
Ronny Chieng Teaches You About K-Pop
The signature elements of K-Pop? Next level dance choreography and being Asian. Ronny Chieng digs into how K-Pop is used to boost Korea's cultural profile and economy, and its worldwide impact today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
5m 27s
Jan 2023
Hallyu: How the Korean Wave Is Sweeping Global Culture
Background: The Korean cultural wave, also known as Hallyu, has become worldwide sensation a in recent years, with Korean art, music, drama, food and more sweeping the globe. Thanks to the fervour over the likes of K-pop and K-beauty, many of the Korean diaspora have seen the cul ... Show More
22m 3s
Jul 2019
What BTS's "Boy With Love" ft. Halsey Can Teach Us About K-pop
How should we listen to K-pop? This music has become a global phenomenon, charting on the Billboard Hot 100, taking over social media feeds, and touring the world. In particular, the group BTS has captured the ears of millions, building an Army of fans along the way. As uninitiat ... Show More
40m 53s
Jun 2023
A Look at the K-Pop Industry and Its Global Fandom | Beyond the Scenes
K-Pop has had loyal Korean fanbases for decades and has made a global impact over time. The intimate relationships cultivated between K-Pop idols and their fans speak to the power of this method of entertainment. Daily Show segment producer Sabrina Lee and postdoctoral associate ... Show More
52m 48s
Apr 2021
SOC311 - Intro to Popular Culture: "It's all about popular"
We’re getting light-hearted in these crazy times and introducing you to the sociology of pop culture! In this episode, we use Dr. David Grazian’s work to explore what popular culture is and how it’s different from high culture. Then we make sense of culture’s role in globalizatio ... Show More
53m 9s