The GW Institute for Korean Studies (GWIKS) invites you to join us for a special K-Culture event on Korean Hip-Hop! While K-Pop is now known throughout the world, there is also a burgeoning hip-hop community in Korea which has gained popularity in recent years. For an introduction to Korean Hip Hop, GWIKS will be screening two parts of a documentary from Arirang TV: Korean Hip-Hop - Part 1. Rise of the Hip-Hop Scene (코리아 힙합 1부 - 힙합, 한국을 뒤흔들다) and Korean Hip Hop Part 2. A Way of Life (코리아 힙합 2부 - 힙합, 세상을 향한 긍정의 힘). The documentary is in Korean with English subtitles.

Our screening will be followed by a discussion led by Dr. Crystal S. Anderson from George Mason University on the influence of African-American Music on Korean Hip Hop. Dr. Anderson's 2020 book, Soul in Seoul: African American Music and K-pop, explores the impact of African American popular music on contemporary Korean pop, R&B and hip-hop and the role of global fans as the music press. Dr. Anderson has written extensively on issues related to K-Pop and Afro-Asian cultural studies. This will be a great opportunity to learn more about Korean Hip Hop and how American artists have influenced Hip-Hop in Korea.

Dinner will be provided and the evening will end with a drawing for two free tickets to see the popular Korean hip hop group, EPIK High on March 13th at the Warner Theater in DC!