Berklee Hosts Major K-Pop Creators and Executives

Berklee is proud to host 2023 Berklee K-Pop and Beyond [login required], a two-day event that will immerse students and members of the community in the full scope of the global K-pop landscape, bringing together major artists and leading professionals from the industry. The event takes place on Friday, November 17, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Loft, 921 Boylston Street, and Saturday, November 18, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Red Room at Cafe, 939 Boylston Street in Boston.

Guest speakers in this year’s program include Nuel Always Cho, chief creative officer of Muzlive and a former executive at Sony, Universal, and Warner Music, and Andrew Choi, an accomplished singer-songwriter that has worked with superstar artists EXO, TVXQ, and many others. Hip-hop crew Foreign Lands will collaborate with Berklee students in a featured performance Saturday afternoon at the Red Room Cafe. K-pop dancers from Boston Conservatory at Berklee who performed at KCON this past August will also give a special performance.

In addition, Michael McCall, Berklee assistant professor and chart-topping songwriter and producer, along with Dr. Ray Seol, assistant professor of professional music and event director, will be hosting workshops and participating in panel discussions.

"This event is important because K-pop is not simply a cultural byproduct of Korea. It serves as a unifying medium through which all people can connect,” said Seol, who is also moderating a panel with Cho. “I hope this event provides students with a space to enjoy and draw inspiration for their career aspirations as well."

2023 Berklee K-Pop and Beyond is an experience that connects students directly with individuals working at the heart of the business, offering them individual career consultations with Cho and Choi as well as workshops focused on practical professional development and learning. Students will have opportunities to celebrate and enjoy K-pop music, with a live DJ performance from students and a K-pop random dance party hosted by the Berklee Asian Culture and Performance Club and Emerson College's EKStone K-pop Dance Club, starting off the event Friday.

“This event is a great opportunity for students to learn the process of creating K-pop music. K-pop is a very showy form of entertainment, and not many people are aware of the efforts behind the stage,” said Nakyung Kang, president of the Korean Culture Student Association at Berklee. “This event will open doors not only for Korean students but also for non-Korean students to experience the procedures from currently active professionals. Overall, I hope that students will enjoy the lectures, activities, and show that we have all put together.”

The event's primary sponsor is the CJ Cultural Foundation, a group that funds scholarships for Berklee students and has been a committed partner in bridging the gap between Berklee classrooms and industry-based knowledge and experience. 2023 Berklee K-Pop and Beyond is organized by the Professional Music Department and the Career Center, with contributions and support from several key Berklee partners, and will mark the culmination of International Education Week.

For more information and a full schedule of events, visit kpopandbeyond.net.