Discussing the Joy of K-Pop: A Book Talk with Dr. Chuyun Oh

Calling all K-pop stans, fans and dance enthusiasts! Join Dr. Chuyun Oh for a discussion about her newest book regarding her research on K-pop ("Korean popular music") dance, identity, and performing arts. The book talk will be followed by a brief K-pop dance performance as well as an interactive movement workshop which will allow everyone to join in on the fun.

Dr. Chuyun Oh (PhD in Performance Studies, University of Texas at Austin) is a Fulbright scholar and Professor of Dance Theory and Practice at San Diego State University. As a pioneer of K-pop dance studies, she offers the first three-unit K-pop dance theory and practice courses in the US at San Diego State University. Dr. Oh’s research institute, Oniz Lab (https://www.onizlab.com), issues the K-pop Creator Certificate, registered with the Korean government, through her summer study abroad program. Dr. Oh has recently published a new book, K-pop Dance Education: To Dreamers (Routledge, 2026), after her Amazon new release bestseller K-pop Dance: Fandoming Yourself on Social Media (Routledge, 2023). See her latest interview here about K-pop Demon Hunters at Fox News.

K-pop, short for "Korean popular music," is typically used to describe “idol music” made by artists trained by entertainment companies to become pop music stars. K-pop can incorporate a variety of influences, including reggae, hip-hop, salsa, and has become widely popular in recent years with the fame of Kpop giants such as BTS and BLACKPINK.