Park Jin-hai primarily focuses on K-dramas, entertainment shows and actor interviews. Beyond that, she also pens articles covering the broader arts scene, with a particular emphasis on classical music, dance and various aspects of lifestyle. Since joining The Korea Times in 2013, she has made significant contributions in the realms of hallyu (Korean wave), industry news and international affairs.
UC Berkeley plans to hold K-pop conference
By Park Jin-hai
An in-school club at UC Berkeley will hold a two-day convention on the colorful and diverse aspects of the K-pop community. Under the theme “[Be] CHROMATIC,” KPOPCON will be held on March 8 and 9, in and around the university campus in northern California.
“KPOPCON strives to gather fans from all backgrounds to celebrate the continuously evolving K-pop community in a social, creative, and academic setting,” said its organizer K-Popular. “While enjoying the hallyu content provided during the workshops, we hope fans will find their creativity and dreams.”
Since the student club launched the K-pop event in 2012, it has been providing a platform for studying the phenomenon academically as well as organizing dance competitions and fan meet-ups.
The event will be all about K-pop. Participants will participate in workshops interspersed with singing and dancing.
On Saturday, workshops on K-pop’s shifting representation of gender and sexuality, incubation systems, and the collision between K-pop and K-drama will be an opportunity to offer an in-depth analysis of the rise of the K-pop community.
The second day will be more about fun. There will be a joint meeting of fan clubs active in the United States, such as Soompy and JYP Nationalists. Participants can join talent shows and perform cover-dances to K-pop acts EXO and Teen Top.
For more information, visit www.kpopcon.com.