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What’s HYBE Success Key? BTS Father Bang Si Hyuk REVEALED After Becoming FIRST Pop Culture Figure with Honorary Doctorate Degree

What’s HYBE key to success? BTS father and HYBE chairman Bang Si Hyuk PD finally REVEALED after becoming the very FIRST figure from Korean pop culture to receive an honorary doctorate degree from the Seoul National University (SNU). Check out the following story and details

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Father of BTS, Bang Si Hyuk PD, Accepted Honorary Doctorate Degree from Seoul National University (SNU) – What is HYBE Success Key?

In the midst of his busy schedule, especially with the upcoming debut of  his first-ever girl group, LE SSERAFIM , BTS father Bang Si Hyuk PD had recently accepted an honorary degree from Seoul National University (SNU)

On April 28, Seoul National University (SNU) announced via their Instagram official account that the university had bestowed an honorary doctorate upon BTS father and HYBE chairman, Bang Si Hyuk PD. Following the completion of the ceremony, Bang Si Hyuk now holds an honorary doctorate degree in Business Administration.

“Today, on April 28, Seoul National University conferred an honorary doctorate in business administration to HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk.” Seoul National University

What is an Honorary Doctorate Degree?

In the world of academics, a doctorate degree (PhD) is the utmost highest recognition you can achieve. However, it is incredibly challenging to reach such honor, and it usually takes years with many sacrifices for students to achieve the title.

On the other hand, an honorary doctorate degree is when someone receives the above PhD title without completing the standard requirements due to the person’s valuable achievements that have benefited the university and the nation.

The difference between these two in the title is while the usual doctorate degree title uses “ Dr. ” at the beginning of their name, an honorary doctorate degree recipient usually places a different title, “ Honoris Causa ” (H.C.) after their name. 

The Reason Behind Bang Si Hyu’s Honorary Degree

Furthermore, Seoul National University (SNU) decided to award BTS father, Bang Si Hyuk PD, with an honorary doctorate degree (PhD) for all his outstanding services in the music industry.

According to the university, Bang Si Hyuk PD has provided South Korea with a powerful contribution. His achievements in the music industry managed to develop Kpop into the world’s best popular culture. And this achievement is an outstanding service that has elevated the status of South Korea.

“Bang Si Hyuk has significantly contributed to elevating Korea’s status by developing the South Korean K-pop industry into the world’s best popular culture. Chairman Bang Si-hyuk, also called the father of BTS, has produced outstanding artists since he founded Big Hit Entertainment. In particular, he showed exceptional management leadership, including being listed in the top 25 most influential executives in the industry on this year’s ‘Billboard Power List’.” Seoul National University.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by 서울대학교 Seoul Nat’l Univ. (@snu.official)

The BIG Secret Behind HYBE Success Key

On top of everything, during the award ceremony, Bang Si Hyuk PD delivered not only an inspiring speech but also exposed the big secret to HYBE success key.

Further in his speech, Bang Si Hyuk revealed that the reason and secret to the key to HYBE success is focusing on the core issue.

Most companies, institutions, and organizations usually choose to act fast once an issue occurs. That way, they can solve the immediate problem as soon as possible and continue progressing.

But that is not HYBE.

According to Bang Si Hyuk PD, if you want to follow the secret key to HYBE success, you should focus more on the primary foundation rather than the surface. That is why after a long and challenging process, HYBE can finally reap what they sowed today.

“The self-diagnosis and prescription we must understand is that we should focus on the essence rather than solving the immediate problem. It has become the conclusive reason for the company to survive so far. I truly believe in the essence of this principle, and I have always tried my best to protect it. That is why today I think the time has come when we can expect the end of the long tunnel. Hence, we will continue studying what the future music industry will look like and strive for survival in the long run.” Bang Si Hyuk.

Bang Si Hyuk PD: FIRST Pop Culture Figure to Receive Honorary Doctorate Degree

By finalizing the award ceremony on April 28, it means that Bang Si Hyuk has now become the FIRST pop culture figure to receive an honorary doctorate degree in South Korea. And this honor adds to various other titles and achievements that Bang Si Hyuk has  accomplished over the years .

Congratulations, Bang Si Hyuk PD nim! You are truly one of a kind.

Finally, please tell us what you think about Bang Si Hyuk’s achievement and stay with Kpoppost’s  Instagram ,  Facebook , and  Twitter  for more Bang Si Hyuk and BTS updates.

In the meantime, here’s a secret key story in the journey to success of HYBE chairman Bang Si Hyuk through TIME photoshoot.

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Psy and his devious plan to feature producer suga of bts for “that that” comeback.

Park Jihye is an adventurous travel blogger who finds joy in exploring new destinations while immersed in the enchanting melodies of Korean music. She seamlessly weaves together her passion for travel and love for Korean music.

Hes bts father 💜✌️ Ik not rlly lol 💜✌️

Wow thats rlly cool ❤️

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20+ K-Pop Idols Who Are Proud College Graduates

K-Pop idols can have some insanely busy schedules, to the point where they barely have any time for themselves. This can make idols reluctant to continue their education, as they just may be too busy. Yet, there are still plenty of idols who graduated from college, here’s a couple of them.

1. Jin (BTS)

Jin graduated from Konkuk University with a degree in Art and Acting.

2. Yuri (Girls’ Generation)

Yuri graduated from Chung Ang University with a degree in Theatre and Film.

3. Siwon (Super Junior)

Siwon graduated from Inha University with a degree in Physical Education.

4. Yoona (Girls’ Generation)

Yoona graduated from Dongguk University with a degree in Theatre Studies.

5. Minzy (Former member of 2NE1)

Minzy graduated from Baekseok University with a degree in Theology.

6. G-Dragon (BIGBANG)

G-Dragon graduated from Gukjae Cyber University with a degree in Leisure Sports. He also earned a Master’s Degree in Content and Retail Distribution from Sejong University.

7. Taecyeon (2PM)

Taecyeon graduated from Dankook University with a degree in Business Studies.

8. Heechul (Super Junior)

Heechul graduated from Sangji Youngsoe College with a degree in English Tourism Translation. He also graduated from Sangji University with a degree in Informatics.

9. U-Know Yunho (TVXQ)

Yunho graduated from Chungwoon University with a master’s degree in Music Broadcasting.

10. Sojin (Girl’s Day)

Sojin graduated from Yeungnam University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

11. Hyuk (VIXX)

Hyuk graduated from Dong-Ah Institute of Media and Arts, where he majored in K-Pop Performance.

12. Sooyoung (Girls’ Generation)

Sooyoung graduated from Chung Ang University with a degree in Film Studies.

13. Ha Sungwoon

Ha Sungwoon graduated from Dong-ah Institute of Media and Arts, where he majored in K-Pop Performance.

14. Kyuhyun (Super Junior)

Kyuhyun graduated from Kyunghee University with a degree in Post-Modern music. He later completed his master’s degree in Post-Modern music as well.

15. Max Changmin (TVXQ)

Changmin graduated from Kyung Hee University with a degree in Post-Modern Music. He also graduated from Konkuk University with a degree in Film and Arts.

16. Sunggyu (INFINITE)

Sunggyu graduated from Taekyeung University as an Applied Music major.

17. Seohyun (Girls’ Generation)

Seohyun graduated from Dongguk University with a degree in Theatre Acting.

18. L (INFINITE)

L graduated from Taekyeung University as an Applied Music major.

19. Dongwoon (Highlight)

Dongwowon graduated from Konkuk University with a degree in Image and Film.

20. Hyojung (Oh My Girl)

Hyojung graduated from Dong-ah Institute of Media and Arts, where she majored in K-Pop Performance.

21. Young K (Day6)

Young K graduated from Dongguk University with a degree in Business Administration.

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• K-pop expert Stephanie Choi explains genre’s global growth

K-pop expert Stephanie Choi explains genre’s global growth

‘k-pop is really about the bond between the idols and the fans,’ choi says.

By Mary Durlak

Release Date: June 9, 2023

Stephanie Choi

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Stephanie Choi, PhD, a postdoctoral associate in the Asia Research Institute at the University at Buffalo, is an expert on K-pop music.

A ethnomusicologist and native of Korea, she can discuss with the news media many aspects of the music, including its unique form affective economy that helps create a deeper, more emotional connection between the consumer (fan) and the product (idol or group).

“K-pop is really about the bond between the idols and the fans,” says Choi, who is writing a book, tentatively titled, “Intimate Capital: Gendered Fandom and Commodified Citizenship in Globalizing K-pop,” and has discussed K-pop with The New Yorker , The Daily Show and other media outlets.

Below, she offers some thoughts on K-pop, and her personal journey to becoming a fan.

The origins of K-pop

Outsiders coined the term K-pop for music that, in South Korea, is called idol music. In 1996, SM Entertainment Group of South Korea created a pop group H.O.T., widely considered to be the first Korean idol group. “An idol group is trained, produced, and managed under a corporate system,” Choi said.

Explosive growth comes from intimacy

Choi believes K-pop’s explosion globally is due to its intimacy and community.

Parasocial relationships – one-sided relationships where one party doesn’t know the other in person – are frequently seen by psychologists as surrogate relationships: a substitute for the lack of a person’s healthy relationship with family or friends. Choi disagrees, saying, “K-pop fandom is just another source of relationship, a different relationship that is not a surrogate for anything else.”

Misperceptions about female fans

The most powerful consumer group in K-pop comprises Korean heterosexual female fans in their 20s and 30s. They manifest their power not only through money, but also in organized and sophisticated protests. “What fascinated me was how the company and idols were willing to accept the fans’ demands,” said Choi.

“Female fans are often considered crazy, hysterical, and irrational,” she said. But in fact, in addition to access, the money spent empowers the fans because a band’s popularity depends on how well the idols can satisfy fans’ demand for a kind of intimacy. That intimacy, Choi argues, is complex: simultaneously personal, commercial, and real.

Yes, the music and lyrics matter

Choi herself is a musician who plays the kayagum, a traditional Korean string instrument. And, yes, she said, despite the importance of the idols, the music itself matters very much. When fans support a group, it’s because they love the music that group creates.

Most K-pop tends to have an upbeat sound, but the lyrics may tackle topics including youth resistance and social awareness, Choi said. Girl groups sing about love, but popular themes also include feminism and misogyny, often presented with a happy melody.

What led to Choi to become a K-pop fan

Like all relationships – and Choi argues that what exists between K-pop fans and performers is a relationship – it took a moment of special connection. That moment happened when Choi was watching a group called EXO on social media, and one dancer, Kai, caught her eye. Excellent choreography is crucial in K-pop, but even so, said Choi, “Kai stood out.”

Through Kai, Choi entered the world of K-pop fandom. “In ethnomusicology—any kind of anthropology, really – you have to go to that culture and experience it,” she said.

Balance between fandom and scholarship

Choi grappled to find the balance between fandom and scholarship, and she concluded that it’s false to believe that a fan can’t be objective. “It’s the opposite,” she said. An idol’s job is to maintain the fantasy of being available as a romantic partner – and it’s the fans who decide how well the idol is doing his job.

The irony here, Choi suggests, is that the true fan understands that this intimate relationship is commercial. If the idol’s job is to maintain a fantasy, it’s the fan’s responsibility to avoid delusion. “If you think an idol who says ‘I love you’ to the camera is talking to you as an individual rather than as a fan, you’re not a true fan,” she said. 

Media Contact Information

Media Relations (University Communications) 330 Crofts Hall (North Campus) Buffalo, NY 14260-7015 Tel: 716-645-6969 [email protected]

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Starter Kit

Start here: your guide to getting into k-pop.

Maria Sherman

A song by the K-pop group BTS, shown here performing during the 2019 Billboard Music Awards, is included in our starter kit. Kevin Winter/Getty Images for dcp hide caption

A song by the K-pop group BTS, shown here performing during the 2019 Billboard Music Awards, is included in our starter kit.

The last half-decade of Western pop music has been dominated by whisper-singing: a deliberately dry, almost ASMR-like performance style popularized by the likes of major label "indie pop" artists Julia Michaels, Selena Gomez, Lana Del Rey and Billie Eilish. The sound is hushed and pacifying, a response to the chaos of the world, the millennial's music equivalent to minimalistic interior design — why belt when you could soothe?

K-pop idol music, meanwhile, took hold in the United States during the exact same era, and it was the opposite: a maximalist dreamland full of color, high concept-performances and videos, a plethora of performers and unrivaled choreography. If Top 40 in America wanted solo singers so soft every breath was caught on mic over a mid-tempo chorus, K-pop appeared to offer a genre-less alternative: constant stimulation, euphoria delivered in eight to 10 melodies and fantastical harmonies in a single track. (That is, K-pop idol music — in the West, "K-pop" is frequently used synonymously with Korean idol music, pop with a high-production value and produced in a deliberate studio system, as it is in this piece.)

Music Features

Korean pop, away from the hit factories.

K-pop is music that is stuffed but never bloated; music that is fun and meant to elicit joy when listened to and seen (K-pop is designed to be enjoyed visually as much, if not more, than it is meant to be heard). And it is music that is now nearing total global ubiquity. Boy band BTS is the most popular group on the planet, bringing in billions to South Korea each year between No. 1 albums (three of which hit that particular benchmark in less than a year ,) history-making late-night television performances and music videos that double as art films . K-pop fans themselves have dominated headlines in and outside of the pop culture arena for their recent political successes : using their digital native understanding to overwhelm white supremacist hashtags, crashing President Trump's Tulsa rally attendance numbers and police apps meant to solicit information about Black Lives Matter protesters, pressuring their Idols to take a stance and contributing millions in donations . For those Anglophone audiences learning about K-pop for the first time, this particular music discovery probably feels like missing the boat on a voyage you didn't know was taking off. How could the needle shift so quickly? K-pop is overwhelming.

Hear The Songs

And that's understandable. In the history of popular music, American audiences have been hesitant to embrace music recorded in a different language, save for a few Spanish-language superstars. Artists from other cultures are expected to cross over — to translate their work, to white-wash themselves and their performances to sell to the United States, the world's largest music market. For many, a dominant pop form that isn't in English is inconceivable. And yet, here's K-pop, music largely recorded in Korean, born in the early 1990s and now one of the most popular forms of music on the planet, enjoyed by multiple generations of listeners. The numbers may be intimidating , but getting into the music shouldn't be.

Learning to experience K-pop means first ridding yourself of common misconceptions. The basics: K-pop is not a genre, nor do K-pop fans behave like a monolith. The term means "Korean pop," but like "Latin pop," the title is more of a geographic designation for the industry than a sonic one. An "idol system" for auditioning and creating pop talent, not unlike the mechanization of Berry Gordy's Motown in the 1960s and '70s, and financial support for the arts by the South Korean government is responsible for K-pop's dominion, but the music's current popularity in the United States is a relatively new phenomenon: born online, retweeted, streamed and shared ceaselessly.

K-pop music traverses genre with incredible ease — in one moment, taking cues from the dubstep drops that defined pop in the early 2010s, or Swedish hitmakers, or hip-hop, or R&B balladry, or new jack swing, or soul, or euro-pop, or Caribbean dancehall, or salsa and beyond — border-less eclecticism identifiable by the performers themselves, their seismic aesthetic judgments, and their multi-lingual singing. K-pop performers run the spectrum from girl groups and boy bands to soloists and rappers. The evolution of K-pop is defined by indistinct "generations" of the music, the parameters of which are frequently contested by fans and critics alike. Listening to K-pop is only one aspect of getting into industry, as well: The path to discovery is designed so that fans participate online, which means the most ardent supporters are vocal and engage in coordinated publicity efforts, such as streaming new music videos on an endless loop. That said, it is possible to get into K-pop by simply listening to it, and that's what the below playlist hopes to accomplish.

Like any introduction, this should serve as a subjective primer — one curated to best satiate curious Western listeners and give them a skeletal foundation in which to build upon. In truth, the world of K-pop is expansive and exponentially evolving. It is not a matter of if you can find a K-pop artist whose work you'll fall for, it's when. Start digging below.

Editors' Picks

K-pop's digital 'army' musters to meet the moment, baggage in tow, first generation: the origins of idols.

Seo Taiji and Boys, "Nan Arayo (I Know)" (1992)

Most critics tend to agree that K-pop's origin story begins on April 11, 1992, when the trio Seo Taiji and Boys performed its soon-to-become a hit "Nan Arayo (I Know)" on South Korea's Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation. For many South Korean youths, the track was their first exposure to hip-hop and New Jack Swing (never mind the popularity of both genres in boy band history) and a welcome alternative to traditional styles of music, including "trot," a form of Korean folk.

H.O.T., "Candy" (1996)

H.O.T. (aka. High-Five of Teenagers — consider them formative to the trend of naming your group with an initialism for easy comprehension in the global marketplace) is largely credited as the first idol group in K-pop history, meaning that its members were brought together by a company — in this case, Lee Soo-man, founder of SM Entertainment. "Candy" is bubblegum pop at its brightest, cute music no doubt constructed in the model of American boy bands and J-pop.

S.E.S., "I'm Your Girl" (1997)

The girl group S.E.S., also put together by Lee Soo-man, was initially positioned as the female counterpart to H.O.T., though its sound differed drastically as the group's profile grew. On "I'm Your Girl," the group bears a striking resemblance to TLC — it's '90s R&B-pop, to a tee.

SECOND GENERATION: The Idol Industry Evolves

Rain, "Rainism" (2008) (This song is not currently available on streaming in the United States.)

After training to debut in a boy band that never took off, Rain pursued a career as a soloist, eventually becoming the first K-pop star to break internationally. "Rainism" is his most successful single, with a sound not unsimilar to Usher and Justin Timberlake. It is especially noteworthy that many of the lyrics are in English.

Wonder Girls, "Nobody" (2008)

Girl group Wonder Girls' retro concept proved to be super successful in 2008, the beginning of a time period routinely referred to as "the golden age of K-pop." The quartet frequently sourced elements from vintage sounds, including Motown — the members embody the Supremes in the video for "Nobody," the first K-pop song to ever chart on the Billboard Hot 100.

SHINee, "Ring Ding Dong" (2009)

Boy band SHINee's "Ring Ding Dong" encapsulates the genre-hybridity of golden age K-pop: it's futuristic R&B, with percussion built on congas, Euro-pop production and heavily auto-tuned vocals.

Girls Generation, "Gee" (2009)

Consider Girls Generation's "Gee" the framework in which all future PG-rated K-pop girl groups would follow: It's sugar-y sweet, bouncy pop music all about love and crushing — and its earworm chorus made it almost instantaneously viral, the most valuable currency of all.

SE7EN ft. Lil' Kim, "Girls" (2009)

It's not just that K-pop, like all forms of popular music, is founded in Black music — as K-pop's presence grew in America, BET was one of its first supporters. Soloist SE7EN's collaboration with American rapper Lil' Kim, "Girls," premiered on 106 & Park .

IU, "Good Day" (2010)

Not all of the biggest K-pop artists become the biggest K-pop artists in the U.S., and such is the case for IU — she is one of the most successful K-pop musicians in South Korea and "Good Day" is proof. Her signature single is as striking as the lead musical number in a beloved Disney classic, and just as orchestral.

Super Junior, "Mr. Simple" (2011)

Super Junior's "Mr. Simple" is soul from Seoul — there's a scat-like, dark jazz club element to song's intro before it explodes in vivid, repetitive techno.

2NE1, "I Am The Best" (2011)

2NE1's "I Am The Best" is Euro-pop excellence — an empowerment anthem for the club.

Psy, "Gangnam Style" (2012)

The virality of Psy's "Gangnam Style," and it's easily mimicked horse-riding dance move, was the first K-pop song to make a major splash in the United States, but in the greater K-pop story, he's an outlier. The song is ironic and subversive, a criticism of a wealthy neighborhood in Seoul and a larger commentary on inequality. The others on this list are sincere love odes constructed to attract the widest audience.

Planet Money

Gangnam style: three reasons k-pop is taking over the world.

BoA, "Only One" (2012)

BoA is formative in the K-pop story — she sang in English long before having a few key phrases in the chorus became a norm, and on "Only One," she tackled R&B breakup balladry with total expertise.

BIGBANG, "Fantastic Baby" (2012)

Before there was BTS, there was BIGBANG, the break-dancing boy band slated to take over the West. "Fantastic Baby" is the group's biggest hit, a gargantuan EDM-hip-hop beat so popular it was covered in the hit show Glee.

THIRD GENERATION: The Idol Industry Goes Transnational

2PM, "My House" (2015)

Boy band 2PM's "My House," is seductive, romantic R&B that will charm even the most staunch genre purist.

GOT7, "Just Right" (2015)

Some may find GOT7's child-like wonder on "Just Right" cheesy, but "twee-rap" might be a better categorization. The chorus, however, screams early One Direction.

EXO, "Monster" (2016)

The 12-member EXO offer a darker take on the electro-pop boy band formula on its single "Monster."

Jennie, "Solo" (2018)

In K-pop, it isn't uncommon for girl group and boy band members to pursue solo work outside of their collective duties — it allows them space to explore other creative avenues without breaking the band up, and doubles as a fan service for those listeners who prefer one member to the others (in K-pop, that member is your "bias"). Blackpink's Jennie, and her solo single "Solo," is the exemplar of a member "going solo," as she sings, without diverting too much from the integrity of the group. This one is for fans of big pop anthems and old school hip-hop whistle.

April, "Oh My Mistake" (2018)

Girl group April's "Oh My Mistake" is '80s synthpop with shimmering production — it is impossible to hear this and not feel giddy.

Blackpink, "Kill This Love" (2019)

The biggest girl group on the planet is Blackpink, a K-pop quartet without a full-length LP under its belt. With singles as ferocious as the air horn-adorned stadium anthem "Kill This Love," it's easy to see why: the single marries military cadences with trap, emphasized with gargantuan synthesizers.

BTS ft. Halsey, "Boy With Luv" (2019)

Any number of BTS songs would be appropriate to include here — check out "No More Dream," the group's first single, to get a sense of their range. That song rallied against a rigid education system that places untenable pressure on young people in South Korea, while "Boy With Luv" is an earworm single featuring one of the greatest American popstars of the 21st century. It's also one of BTS's most irresistible singles, a roller rink disco number punctuated with an almost house-like bass drum.

FOURTH GENERATION: K-pop Breaks Down Borders

Ateez, "Say My Name" (2019)

The latest generation of K-pop superstars are no longer bound by borders—they can debut or train outside of South Korea and become just as, or even more successful in the West than they are back home. They also continue to expand upon K-pop's constant musical experimentation. Eight-person boy band Ateez's hit "Say My Name," for example, is built around a pan flute, and main rapper Mingi, with his raspy tone so low it recalls Scandinavian post-punk more than any other vocalists on this list, sings the chorus. It is so distinctive, listeners will have no choice but to forgive them for giving their song the same title as a Destiny's Child classic.

Maria Sherman is a senior staff writer at Jezebel and the author of the book Larger Than Life: A History of Boy Bands from NKOTB to BTS.

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Korean History, Literature, Religions, & Cultural Studies

The Korean studies program at Columbia is one of the premier Korean studies programs in the English-speaking world, and offers specializations in Korean History and Korean Literature. Jungwon Kim in pre-modern and early modern Korean cultural history, Theodore Hughes in modern Korean literature and visual culture, and Seong Uk Kim in Korean religions offer a very broad temporal range and rich variety of theoretical and methodological perspectives.

Columbia’s Starr East Asian Library houses one of the largest collections of Korean materials in North America. The Center for Korean Research at the Weatherhead East Asian Institute plays a leading role in the study of Korea within Columbia University, the New York City area, and beyond. By sponsoring public lectures, conferences, workshops, and cultural events such as movies and concerts on Korea-related topics, the CKR works to advance academic knowledge and a greater public awareness of Korea. The CKR also serves as a bridge between Korean Studies in North America and the most recent work of the Korean academic world through its sponsorship of visiting scholars and active partnerships with universities and institutions in Korea.

Our Korean language program is one of the best in North America. We teach first through fifth-year Korean, including a seminar on mixed script designed especially for Korean studies graduate students. Along with Columbia’s nationally leading Chinese and Japanese language programs, the Korean language program in EALAC is a key component of one the top East Asian language programs in North America.

We emphasize an interdisciplinary, transnational approach to Korean studies. Students thus work with a range of faculty at Columbia. In EALAC, we have great depth on the Japan side, with Carol Gluck, Paul Kreitman, Gregory Pflugfelder, and David Lurie in history, Tomi Suzuki, and Haruo Shirane in literature, and Paul Anderer in Japanese film and visual culture. Our strong Chinese studies program features Madeleine Zelin in modern economic and institutional history, Eugenia Lean in modern cultural history, Dorothy Ko in Ming-Qing cultural history and material history, and Li Feng in early history and archaeology We are just as rich in Chinese literature, with Lydia Liu in modern literature and theory and Shang Wei in Ming-Qing fiction and drama. We have the leading faculty in East Asian religion in this country with Bernard Faure, Max Moerman, and Michael Como in Japanese religions.

Columbia’s location in New York City, home to the second-largest Korean-American community in the United States, provides students with a wealth of Korea-related academic and cultural activities. Students can take advantage of Korea-related talks, film screenings, exhibitions, and other activities at The Korea Society, Asia Society, Lincoln Center, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art, and New York Public Library.

Students in the PhD program at Columbia engage in cutting-edge research on a wide array of topics. Please see the list of recent graduates and their dissertation topics as well as the current PhD student profiles. The PhD program provides full funding (covering both tuition and stipend) for five years. The Korean studies MA program has a very strong record of placing its graduates in PhD programs of high quality or in non-academic jobs related to East Asia; it is a good beginning to either an academic or a professional career. Please contact Korean studies faculty by email to learn more about the PhD and MA programs.

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EALAC – Columbia University 407 Kent Hall 1140 Amsterdam Ave. MC 3907  New York, NY 10027 tel:212.854.5027

The Pop History Doctor

Museum professional and academic by day, travel journalist by night

Exploring the Intersection of History and Pop Culture through K-Pop Fandoms and Korean Histories.

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I’m a PhD Candidate at Birmingham City University in the United Kingdom. I am a second-generation Korean-American travel writer, museum professional, and academic who studies the intersection of history and popular culture, all the while traveling the world! My current focus is on K-Pop fandoms, fan performances, and traditional Korean histories.

View my previous work, research and publications in history, museums, and popular culture, with a focus on K-Pop fandoms and Korean histories.

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• Schools & departments

Korean Studies PhD

Awards: PhD

Study modes: Full-time, Part-time

Funding opportunities

Placements/internships

Programme website: Korean Studies

Discovery Day

Join us online on 18th April to learn more about postgraduate study at Edinburgh

View sessions and register

Research profile

A PhD in Korean Studies is an opportunity to expand upon your interests and expertise in the two Koreas in a community that really values research, and to make an original, positive contribution to learning in this area.

Join our community and undertake a specialised research project under the guidance of experienced and well-published supervisors.

Our programme is based in an Asian Studies department with a unique combination of disciplinary expertise in Korean Studies, Japanese, Chinese, and East Asian Relations.

Reflecting the Korean peninsula's place at the centre of landmark geopolitical developments in the early 21st century, we have particular strengths in:

• modern Korean history
• Korean society and culture
• political economy
• urban studies
• public policy
• political science
• international relations

Explore our range of research centres, networks and projects in Asian Studies

Working with colleagues elsewhere in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures, and across the wider University, we are able to support PhD theses crossing boundaries between languages and/or disciplines, including:

• comparative literature
• film studies
• translation studies

Be inspired by the range of PhD research in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures

Over the course of your PhD, you will be expected to complete an original body of work under the expert guidance of your supervisors leading to a dissertation of usually between 80,000 and 100,000 words.

You will be awarded your doctorate if your thesis is judged to be of an appropriate standard, and your research makes a definite contribution to knowledge.

Research excellence

In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), our research was submitted in the categories of:

• Modern Languages and Linguistics
• Politics and International Studies
• Theology and Religious Studies

The results reaffirm Edinburgh’s position as one of the UK’s leading research universities - third in the UK based on the quality and breadth of its research in Modern Languages and Linguistics alone, according to Times Higher Education's REF power ratings.

Go beyond the books

Beyond the Books is a podcast from the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC) that gives you a behind-the-scenes look at research and the people who make it happen.

Listen to a mix of PhD, early career and established researchers talk about their journey to and through academia and about their current and recent research. Guests include Dr Youngmi Kim (Series 2 - Episode 3), Senior Lecturer in Korean Studies and Director of the Centre for Korean Studies.

Browse Beyond the Books episodes and hear our research community talk about their work

Work placements/internships

Although not mandatory, you will be encouraged to take on an internship in either the UK or South Korea.

Potential partners may include the East Asia Institute, Asan Institute for Policy Studies, Seoul National University Asia Centre and the Yun Posun Democracy institute in South Korea.

As a PhD student, you may be actively involved in organising international events such as conferences and workshops hosted by Korean Studies.

During the programme you will also have the opportunity to attend professional development events and training, aiming to equip you with research and other transferable skills.

Training and support

This programme includes optional training on research skills, methods and problems.

Between the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC), the Careers Service and the Institute for Academic Development (IAD), you will find a further range of programmes and resources to help you develop your postgraduate skills.

You will also have access to the University’s fantastic libraries, collections and worldwide strategic partnerships.

Part of a community

As part of our research community, you will be immersed in a world of knowledge exchange, with lots of opportunities to share ideas, learning and creative work.

Activities range from a regular seminar series in Asian Studies (with talks by staff, research students and visiting speakers) to the annual Korean Film Festival, and year-round screenings and workshops.

We play a key role in the yearly symposium held in honour of Edinburgh alumnus Yun Posun, bringing together leading scholars from South Korea, Europe and beyond.

Our graduates tell us that they value LLC’s friendliness, the connections they make here and the in-depth guidance they receive from our staff, who are published experts in their field.

Based in the Main University Library, the Centre for Research Collections is unique in the UK, bringing together a collection of more than 400,000 rare books, six kilometres of archives and manuscripts, and the University’s collections of art, historical musical instruments and other objects.

Notable collections include the East Asian Studies Collection of some 50,000 print and digital resources, including a dedicated Korea Collection supported by the Korea Foundation.

As a PhD candidate here, you will be based at the heart of the University of Edinburgh in a world-leading festival city with a thriving East Asian cultural scene.

Many important collections are a short walk from our buildings, including those in the National Library, Museum, and Galleries of Scotland.

Career opportunities

You will acquire an interdisciplinary understanding of the major issues in Korean society, politics, culture, economy and international relations, and history and will be able to relate those to broader social, political and economic trends in the East Asian region and globally. Drawing on different analytical and methodological tools, you will be able to engage various disciplinary and theoretical perspectives and apply concepts to empirical cases.

You will gain the necessary knowledge and skills to analyse, compare and assess competing claims and make informed judgements about them. You will additionally gain transferable skills, including analysis presentation, communication, the use of new technologies in a learning environment, and team work.

Having acquired the tools to analyse and understand the complexities of the two Koreas and East Asian relations in a global context, you could apply your skills in professional areas, such as diplomacy, national and international organisations, and research institutions.

If you choose to pursue a career in an alternative field, you will find the skills you gain in research, communication, presentation and analysis will give you an edge in the competitive employment marketplace.

Entry requirements

These entry requirements are for the 2024/25 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2025/26 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2024.

A UK 2:1 honours degree and a masters degree, or their international equivalents, in a related subject. We may also consider your application if you have equivalent qualifications or experience; please check with the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC) before you apply.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country
• English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 23 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced ( CAE ) / C2 Proficiency ( CPE ): total 185 with at least 176 in each component.
• Trinity ISE : ISE III with passes in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 70 with at least 62 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS , TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE , in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old* at the beginning of your programme of study. (*Revised 05 March 2024 to extend degree validity to five years.)

Find out more about our language requirements:

Fees and costs

Scholarships and funding, featured funding.

For entry in September 2024 or January 2025, we are delighted to offer one student paying home (Scotland/UK) rates a scholarship covering full tuition fees for three years of PhD study.

We also have scholarships for up to four students covering up to £3,000 of tuition fees in their first year of study – home and international/EU rates.

These scholarships have been made possible by the Academy of Korean Studies (AKS). You do not need to apply for a scholarship – all eligible candidates who apply for the programme will be considered for them and contacted if successful.

Other funding opportunities

There are a number of other scholarship schemes available to eligible candidates on this PhD programme, including awards from the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

Please be advised that many scholarships have more than one application stage, and early deadlines.

• Find out more about scholarships in literatures, languages and cultures

We will also make prospective applicants and enrolled students aware of other available funding opportunities as they arise.

Typically, these include scholarship options from the Korea Foundation, SK Foundation, Asan Foundation and the Samsung Foundation.

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding

Further information

• Phone: +44 (0)131 650 4086
• Contact: [email protected]
• School of Literatures, Languages & Cultures
• 50 George Square
• Central Campus
• Programme: Korean Studies
• School: Literatures, Languages & Cultures
• College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.

PhD Korean Studies - 3 Years (Full-time)

Phd korean studies - 6 years (part-time), application deadlines.

We strongly recommend you submit your completed application as early as possible, particularly if you are also applying for funding or will require a visa. We may consider late applications if we have places available.

• How to apply

You must submit two references with your application.

The online application process involves the completion of a web form and the submission of supporting documents.

For a PhD programme, you should include:

• a sample of written work of about 3,000 words (this can be a previous piece of work from an undergraduate or masters degree)
• a research proposal - a detailed description of what you hope to achieve and how

Guidance on the application process and writing a research proposal

Before you apply, you should also look at the interests and expertise of our research community on the programme website. This will help you decide if this programme is right for you and your supervision needs.

Programme website - research centres, networks and projects in Asian Studies

Programme website - our postgraduate environment in Asian Studies

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

• University of Pennsylvania
• School of Arts and Sciences
• Penn Calendar

James Joo-Jin Kim Center for Korean Studies

Moon Family Distinguished Lecture 2022 with Former Prime Minister of South Korea Chung Sye-kyun

Korean Studies Colloquium

Lee Nakyon, "Proposals for Peace on the Korean Peninsula"

4th KSYS Graduate Student Conference

A Conversation with 6ABC Anchor Nydia Han: Lessons Learned about Identity and Anti-Asian Hate through the Lens of Television News

Credit: Jean Park

What is Korean Studies?

Korean Studies is an interdisciplinary field that examines the rich and dynamic past and present of Korea. As Korea’s presence in world affairs continues to shift and grow, the James Joo-Jin Kim Center for Korean Studies at the University of Pennsylvania is committed to supporting the study of Korea at Penn and in the community. 

University of Pennsylvania 3600 Market Street Suite 310 Philadelphia, PA 19104 Tel: 215.573.8367 [email protected]

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pH-1 Profile

Rap Name: pH-1 / 피에이치원 Birth Name: Park Junwon / 박준원 English Name: Harry Park / 해리 박 Birthday: July 23rd, 1989 Zodiac Sign: Leo Height: 180 cm / 5’11” Blood Type: O Nationality: Korean American Instagram: ph1boyyy YouTube: pH-1 Twitter: ph1boyyy SoundCloud: ph1boyyy

pH-1 Facts: – His MBTI is INFP-T. – Born in South Korea, but moved to America around the age of 12. – He lived in New York for 15 years. – pH-1 grew up in Long Island. His parents still lives there. – He picked his English name ‘Harry’ because of ‘ Harry Potter ‘ as well as the actor, Daniel Radcliffe who has the same birthday as pH-1. – His favorite house in ‘ Harry Potter ‘ is Gryffindor. He dislike the house Slytherin. – His rap name stands for Park Harry and 1. The 1 stands for Won because they have a similar sound. – pH-1 doesn’t mind how people write his rap name. – pH-1 decided to move to Korea due to not being able to live without the music industry. – His biggest challenge in the industry was that he didn’t know anyone in Korea so making connections was hard for him as well as the cultural differences. – He is a Christian and his faith is very important to him. – When he was a child, he wanted to be a football player. – A tiny poodle named Holly . He named her after watching ‘ Breaking Bad ‘. – He is a former contestant on SMTM777 . – pH-1 made a special appearance on SMTM8 . – He was featured on Mirani ‘s ‘ Achoo ‘ during SMTM9 . – pH-1 is a former producer on HSR4 with Jay Park and Woogie . – He has been rapping since 2015. – pH-1 made his Korean debut with the song ‘ Perfect ‘. – Him and Owen Ovadoz has a duo together, Sous Chefs . – In 2017 he released his EP, ‘ The Island Kid ‘. – pH-1 played the piano since he was a kid. He can also play the guitar, drums, saxophone, and other musical instruments. – During his freshman year of college, he realized that rapping was most important to him and began to take it seriously. – He graduated from Boston College. Afterwards he studied to get into dental school but later changed his mind and became a web developer. – pH-1 went to college with Eric Nam . – He was classmates with HIGHLIGHT ‘s ( BEAST )  Yang Yoseop . They were on the same samulnori team together. – He is a homebody and values his private life. – His favorite color is Orange . – He doesn’t like the rain. – He gets picked on by his younger label mates. – Hwimin and Gyujeong love to ‘torture’ him. – According to Mirani , pH-1 likes Haribo classic jellies. – The most memorable thing to happen to him was when he was signed to H1IGHR MUSIC after moving to Korea. – Hobbies: Listen to music, watch TV (Netflix), spend time with his dog, and play basketball. – He enjoys playing basketball, soccer, and playstation. – pH-1 doesn’t cook at home, he orders delivery everyday. – His mom is a really good cook. – For him, autotune doesn’t cover up the skills of an artist, it’s simply a style. – He tries not to put any swearing, sexual stuff, drugs or money in his lyrics. pH-1 hopes his lifestyle and his beliefs are evident through his music. – He wants to go to Thailand for vacation and not for work. – He is a former Co-Host on ‘ GET REAL ‘ on DIVE Studios with BTOB ‘s Peniel and Ashely Choi . – As pH-1 doesn’t want to seem desperate, he doesn’t text the person he really likes right back on purpose. – pH-1’s Ideal Type: Someone goal-oriented, independent, well-mannered, and polite. He likes girls that cook well (as it reminds him of his mom). He says he doesn’t have high standards.

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• I love him, he's my ultimate bias 78%, 8936 votes 8936 votes 78% 8936 votes - 78% of all votes
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cntrljinsung

I hope you all love the profiles and articles I make for you! I'm also a wikipedia editor so anything Kpop and you'll see me there! My favorite part about editing on KProfiles is that I get to learn about the groups that I write about based off of your requests. Everyone needs an extended Kpop playlist, thank you!

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