K-Pop becomes a serious subject at top universities

26 Apr 2026, 11:46 by Helena-son · allkpop

On April 25, Oxford University celebrated the opening of its new humanities center with a K-pop performance. Hundreds of people cheered loudly to songs like Rosé’s "APT" and K-Pop Demon Hunters' OST tracks. Professors noted that K-pop now draws the biggest crowds, showing how much interest in Korean culture has grown.

The biggest news of the event was the announcement of the new Oxford Korean Studies Centre, opening this October. The center will study the global power of Korean culture (Hallyu) and find ways to help it keep growing in the future.

K-pop is also making history in American schools. San Diego State University (SDSU) started the first regular college class on K-pop dance theory in 2023. Taught by Professor Oh Joo Yeon, the class is so popular that all 80 seats sold out very fast, leaving a long waitlist.

Professor Oh treats K-pop dance as an independent art form, just like hip-hop. She studies how fans connect with their favorite idols and build their identities. Experts believe that bringing K-pop into universities will help its global influence last for many decades to come.

Share this article SHARE