ADRN

The KF Korea Workshop is hosted by the Korea Foundation and organized by the East Asia Institute to promote and share understanding of Korean social, political, and economic issues among international residents in Korea.

For the third lecture of the 2019 KF Korea Workshop, Professor SetByol Choi of Ewha Womans University's Department of Sociology presented her lecture on "Understanding Korea's Cultural Grammar through BTS." In regard to the BTS phenomenon, Professor Choi focused on three main cultural characteristics of Korea. For the first trait, she discussed the Korean tendency to value 'external recognition.' She contended that the success of Hallyu like that of BTS has provided an opportunity for Koreans to regain self-esteem about their own cultural heritage. For the second trait, Professor Choi delved into Koreans' efficiency and systematic management as seen through BTS performances, and related them to a 'high zeal for education' and a 'system of competition' underlying Korean society. Professor Choi also explained the third characteric of Korean culture invested in 'fandom' and discussed the 'BTS A.R.M.Y.' phenomenon in relation to Korea's societal issues.

Following the lecture, the participants of the workshops asked various questions. Professor Choi's lecture enlightened the participants not only about Hallyu and BTS but their relationship with enduring traits in Korean society and culture.

Program