Mark James Russell - "K-Pop: Where It Came From, Where It's Going, and Why It Matters"

Mark James Russell, Author of the Book Pop Goes Korea: Behind the Revolution in Movies, Music, and Internet Culture

Psy's "Gangnam Style" surprised everyone when it became the biggest Youtube hit ever in 2012. But Korean pop music — along with the rest of Korean pop culture — has actually been on the rise for years, gaining fans around Asia, into the Middle East, Europe, South America, and the United States. While Korea has a rich cultural heritage, the successes of today are a result of a mix of artistic, business, and technological forces, stripping away old constraints and empowering creators and audiences like never before. The rise of K-pop is about much more than just a pop music factory system; it's about the future of popular culture.