EduAsiaNews, Jakarta — What has enabled K-pop to transcend national borders and become a global cultural phenomenon? Is its success simply the result of catchy music and the appeal of its idols, or is there a broader strategy behind its global rise?
These questions will be explored at the launch and discussion of Bagaimana K-Pop Menguasai Dunia? (How K-pop Conquered the World), a book by Jungkiu Choi, a South Korean professional with extensive experience in the K-pop performing arts industry.
The discussion will feature Choi as the author and Zaini, M.A., a lecturer in the Korean Language and Culture Study Program at the Faculty of Humanities of Universitas Indonesia. The discussion will be moderated by Zahra Ramdhania Dewi, a graduate of the same program at the Faculty of Humanities.
The book launch and discussion will take place at Kinokuniya Bookstore, Grand Indonesia West Mall, Ground Floor, Jakarta, on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Jakarta time.
Bagaimana K-Pop Menguasai Dunia? (How K-pop Conquered the World) examines K-pop from a broader perspective. Rather than viewing it solely as music and entertainment, the book explores K-pop as a cultural industry that brings together music, creativity, technology, business, communication, marketing and the power of fan communities.
K-pop did not become a global phenomenon overnight. Behind the dazzling performances and worldwide popularity of its idols lies a lengthy process built on discipline, hard work, perseverance, creativity, teamwork and strategies designed to reach global audiences.
One important aspect is the training of aspiring idols. Before performing in front of millions of fans, trainees undergo intensive preparation to develop their singing and dancing skills, stage presence, communication abilities and capacity to work as part of a team.
Teamwork is another important element of the K-pop industry. A successful group does not operate in isolation. Behind every performance are songwriters, producers, choreographers, stylists, photographers, videographers, management teams, marketers and technology specialists.
The growth of digital technology has further accelerated the global spread of K-pop. Social media and digital platforms have enabled Korean music and related content to reach audiences in countries around the world quickly and directly.
What has emerged is not merely a global music market, but also a global community. K-pop fans are not simply passive consumers. They create and share content, translate information, follow their idols’ activities, attend concerts and build communities across national borders.
In this way, K-pop has become an important part of Hallyu, or the Korean Wave. Interest in K-pop has also helped introduce international audiences to other aspects of Korean culture, including the Korean language, television dramas, food, fashion, cosmetics and tourism.
The phenomenon illustrates how a cultural product can develop into an economic force while expanding a country’s cultural influence abroad. Yet the book is not solely about K-pop’s popularity. It also highlights broader values that can be learned from the industry, including discipline, perseverance, teamwork, creativity, innovation, professionalism and long-term strategic thinking.
For Indonesia’s creative industries, the Korean experience offers lessons worth examining. Indonesia has considerable creative talent, but the challenge is to develop that talent through consistent systems, a strong industrial ecosystem, effective use of technology and strategies capable of bringing Indonesian creative products to international markets.
The book ultimately asks a question that goes beyond why K-pop is popular: How did South Korea build a system capable of turning its popular music and culture from a domestic phenomenon into a global force? (**)
