Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
What is K-pop? How did it become a billion-dollar global industry?
In this video, Dr. Jenny Banh, professor in Fresno State's Department of Anthropology, explores the rise of K-pop, the Korean Wave (Hallyu), and South Korea’s transformation into a global cultural powerhouse. From the aftermath of World War II to the explosive global success of “Gangnam Style,” she analyzes how the Korean government strategically invested in music, K-drama, and K-beauty to rebuild the nation’s economy and expand its global influence.
K-pop isn’t just entertainment. It’s soft power, economic development, and globalization – building community across borders. Today, millions of fans around the world connect through Korean popular culture, forming international digital communities that transcend geography, language, and politics.
Topics covered:
• The economics of K-pop and South Korea’s cultural exports
• The Hallyu (Korean Wave) phenomenon
• Government investment in popular culture
• Global fandom and digital communities
• Cultural industries as national strategy
• K-pop, K-dramas, and K-beauty as global brands
Culture can reshape a nation’s global standing — which is why the rise of South Korea deserves serious academic analysis.
Learn more about Fresno State's College of Social Sciences at https://socialsciences.fresnostate.edu/index.html
What is K-pop? How did it become a billion-dollar global industry?
In this video, Dr. Jenny Banh, professor in Fresno State's Department of Anthropology, explores the rise of K-pop, the Korean Wave (Hallyu), and South Korea’s transformation into a global cultural powerhouse. From the aftermath of World War II to the explosive global success of “Gangnam Style,” she analyzes how the Korean government strategically invested in music, K-drama, and K-beauty to rebuild the nation’s economy and expand its global influence.
K-pop isn’t just entertainment. It’s soft power, economic development, and globalization – building community across borders. Today, millions of fans around the world connect through Korean popular culture, forming international digital communities that transcend geography, language, and politics.
Topics covered:
• The economics of K-pop and South Korea’s cultural exports
• The Hallyu (Korean Wave) phenomenon
• Government investment in popular culture
• Global fandom and digital communities
• Cultural industries as national strategy
• K-pop, K-dramas, and K-beauty as global brands
Culture can reshape a nation’s global standing — which is why the rise of South Korea deserves serious academic analysis.
Learn more about Fresno State's College of Social Sciences at https://socialsciences.fresnostate.edu/index.html
