“KPOP High”, a specialized high school for Kpop in Korea, has attracted the attention of British media The Times.
On July 22nd, British media The Times introduced the Kpop High School “KPOP HIGH”, which is located in Gwangcheon-eup, Hongseong-gun. According to the press, the place is filled with foggy hills, rice fields, and quiet streets with elderly farmers, yet is home to a one-of-a-kind educational institution, not only in Korea but also in the world.
The predecessor to “KPOP High” was Gwangcheon High School, originally a general humanities high school. However, under the leadership of Principal Park Byung Gyu, the school underwent a transformation in 2020 and became Korea’s first specialized high school in the performing arts field of Kpop, garnering attention.
In particular, KPOP High introduces specialized fields of dance, dance vocal, vocal, rap, and MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface), and there are currently a total of 120 students enrolled, including one from China.
The Times explained that Korea has given birth to global groups such as BTS and BLACKPINK, and further elaborated that Korean education authorities are establishing schools where students can study Kpop alongside subjects like math and English.
According to The Times, KPOP High in Korea is the 1st school to be established with the intention of enabling students aged 16 to 18 to pursue their dreams of becoming Kpop idols, while still completing their studies.
Furthermore, through an interview with Principal Park, The Times shed light on the background of KPOP. When Park took office 6 years ago, Gwangcheon High School was facing a crisis of closure due to the disappearance of farming and fishing villages. To overcome this difficult situation, he pondered various options such as international schools or soccer academies before ultimately deciding to transform it into a specialized Kpop school.
At that time, the Korean government was also beginning to recognize the value of Kpop as a soft power asset, The Times remarked, adding that Principal Park’s decision was an “excellent choice.”
However, The Times also delved into the darker side of Kpop, stating that while this industry raises the hopes of countless individuals, it ultimately shatters the hopes of all except a few.
The press also referred to the case of Moonbin, a member of boy group ASTRO who passed away in April, and raised concerns that the industry of Kpop is designed to harm young people’s mental health.
Nevertheless, in their interview with The Times, one student at KPOP High admitted that they are aware of the dark side of the Kpop industry, but contested that idols receive a lot of love from many people.
The student added that since it is their dream to become a star, they are willing to bear the risks and darkness, and those are risks worth taking.
