By Noh Hyun-gi

What does “Arirang,” a traditional Korean song loaded with sentiments unique to Korean history, mean to those outside the country?

The Academy of Korean Studies and Korean Traditional Performing Arts Foundation will hold the International Conference for Arirang on Wednesday and Thursday to examine “Arirang” from various perspectives.

This is the first event to invite scholars from around the globe to focus on the music.

On Wednesday, following the opening ceremony, music scholars will analyze “Arirang” as a purely musical piece.

Professors from Korean universities will discuss its influence on Korean literature and the rapidly expanding K-pop.

Then, a panel including Chang Ik-sun, professor at Yanbian University in China, will analyze the song’s meaning to North Koreans and Koreans living overseas.

On Thursday, Asia-based scholars such as Yukio Uemura, a professor at the Tokyo University of Arts, will give presentations on the significance of the music in the context of Asian culture.

The last session will invite professors based outside the continent— Jean Kidula from University of Georgia, the United States and Simon Mills from Durham University, the United Kingdom — to review the Korean song from a non-Asia perspective.

The conference will be held at the auditorium of the Academy of Korean Studies in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.