Sounding Korean: The politics of Korean popular music exhibitions
On December 4 the Centre for Korean Studies hosted a thought-provoking talk by Dr. Haekyung Um, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Music and the Institute of Popular Music at the University of Liverpool.
Dr. Um delved into the intricate relationship between curating Korean popular music and its role in both reflecting and shaping South Korea's national branding. Inspired by her visit to the Victoria and Albert Museum’s landmark 2022 exhibition Hallyu! The Korean Wave, she explored how curatorial and exhibiting processes canonise Korean popular culture from the 20th and 21st centuries, representing national, transnational, and regional heritages and identities.
Her presentation gave insights into differing approaches to the curation of Korean popular music exhibitions across the United States, South Korea, and the United Kingdom, highlighting how factors such as audience, influence, and donor involvement play a role in shaping them.
The event attracted a full room of attendees, a mix of both students and staff, and led to a lively Q&A discussion.
The Centre of Korean Studies thanks Dr. Um for her captivating talk and looks forward to hosting a wealth of events in the new year.