K-Pop vs NK Pop: Korean culture on both sides of the border

Join us for a fascinating panel exploring Korean culture from two different vantage points: the tightly managed world of K-pop idols and the emerging fashion-driven agency of women in North Korea.

Dr Heeyon Kim on ‘How the organisations behind K-pop artists shape their identities and creative trajectories’.

Heeyon Kim’s research shows how the organisations behind K-pop artists shape their identities and creative trajectories. Her published research finds that entertainment agencies’ status affects whether idol groups follow dominant market trends or make more radical identity changes, but that this influence is much weaker for female groups, whose creative options are more constrained by gendered audience expectations. She will also draw on ongoing research examining why female idols receive fewer opportunities than male idols to write and produce their own music.

Prof Bronwen Dalton and A/Prof Kyungja Jung on ‘Women’s agency through fashion in North Korea’.

Associate Professor Kyungja Jung and Professor Bronwen Dalton’s research shows that women in North Korea use hyper-feminine fashion choices—such as high heels, branded designer-style items, lace, and colourful clothing—as a symbol of wealth, status, and agency amid the country's rising grassroots capitalism.

Dr Leonid Petrov on North Korean music, TV/Film.

Dr Leonid Petrov is a Senior Lecturer and Program Manager at the International College of Management Sydney and a Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University, where he teaches a course on the Korean War. A specialist in North Korean history and society, he completed his PhD at ANU and has taught at universities in the United States, Korea, France and Australia. His research includes the ARC-funded project "North Korea's Quiet Transformation" at UTS.

Moderated by Dr Ece Kaya, the session includes presentations followed by Q&A, drinks, and nibbles.

What you'll gain

• Insight into how K-pop agencies shape idols' identities and careers, and why gender skews creative opportunities

• A rare look at women's agency and status in North Korea through fashion and grassroots capitalism

• The opportunity to engage with leading researchers through Q&A, drinks, and networking

Who should attend?

• UTS staff, alumni, and the wider public.

• Business/management students, especially anyone interested in the entertainment or creative industries, management and organizational studies.

• Students and researchers in Korean studies, gender studies, or sociology.

• People interested in K-pop and Korean culture.