23 January 2026
Anita Kartika Pasaribu
FIB USU PR - The Master’s Program in Art Studies and Creation, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara, held a Sharing Session with Prof. Jin Ho Shim of Silla University, South Korea, on Friday, January 23, 2026. The event, themed “Global Influences of K-Pop and K-Culture,” took place in the Meeting Room of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences USU from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. WIB.
The event was attended by 25 participants, consisting of the Head and Secretary of the Study Program (Prof. Dr. Ikhwanuddin, M.Hum., and Drs. Torang Naiborhu, M.Hum.), lecturers, and students of the Master’s Program in Art Studies and Creation, as well as the English Literature Study Program of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, USU. Also in attendance were the Head of the Dance Arts Study Program, Faculty of Language and Arts, Universitas Negeri Medan (UNIMED), Dr. Heni Komalasari, M.Pd., along with lecturers and students from UNIMED, contributing an inter-institutional perspective to the discussion.
The event was officially opened by the Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, USU, Prof. Dr. T. Thyrhaya Zein, M.A., who in his opening remarks emphasized the importance of cross-cultural understanding in the development of art and cultural studies in the global era.
The discussion session was moderated by Prof. Mauly Purba, M.A., Ph.D., who guided the discussion in a dynamic and engaging manner.
In his presentation, Prof. Jin Ho Shim explained how K-pop continues to evolve through the emergence of new groups, diverse musical styles, and creative industry strategies that are adaptive to the global market.
He stated that K-pop plays a vital role as a key agent in disseminating K-culture (the Korean Wave) worldwide, including in Indonesia. He highlighted current K-pop trends that extend beyond music to encompass lifestyle, fashion, film, and digital media. He also elaborated on how K-pop has broken geographical boundaries, dominated international music charts, and influenced music and music video production in various countries, including Indonesia.
Furthermore, he noted that the role of social media and global connectivity has accelerated the spread of K-pop, enabling idols to interact directly with fans and increasing interest in the Korean language and popular culture. Through idol groups such as BTS and BLACKPINK, K-pop has become an effective medium for promoting the Korean language, cuisine, and South Korean beauty products.
One example discussed was the success of the Netflix animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters, which demonstrates the adaptability of K-culture across genres and cultures.
Participants’ enthusiasm was evident during the question-and-answer (Q&A) session, where discussions expanded to topics such as the K-pop music industry, issues of cultural globalization, challenges in preserving local identity, the influence of Western music culture in the post-Korean War period, high-energy Western dance styles, and opportunities for international artistic collaboration. Through this activity, it is hoped that a more comprehensive understanding and stronger academic networks can be established to support the development of art and cultural studies within a global context.
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