Masterclasses

K-Pop and Beyond: The Rise of a Global Sensation

 

Thursday, September 18, 2025  7-9 PM ET

(Enrollment closes 5PM ET, Wednesday, September 17.)

$99

 

Dr. Ray Seol 

 

How did K-pop evolve from a regionally successful industry into a global powerhouse? In this masterclass, we’ll dive deep into the forces that shaped K-pop’s meteoric rise from its roots in Korean culture to its explosive impact on the global stage. Led by a pioneer in K-pop education at Berklee, you’ll examine the genre’s history, key artists, musical characteristics, and business mechanics. Along the way, we’ll spotlight major moments—from the early influence of artists like Seo Taiji and Boys, H.O.T. and EXO to the global breakthroughs of BTS and BLACKPINK—and analyze how K-pop continues to reshape the international music landscape.

 

First, we will discuss an overview of K-pop’s history and cultural background with a few examples from key artists to establish foundational knowledge. Then, we will examine the business of K-pop, focusing on each stage of a K-pop label’s operations. Lastly, we will review real-world business practice cases within the K-pop industry.

 

What You’ll Learn

How to discuss and outline the history and evolution of K-pop

How to identify significant milestone K-pop artists and select K-pop repertoire

How to describe the musical, cultural, and stylistic characteristics of K-pop

How to explain how the K-pop industry operates

How to analyze recent K-pop business cases and discuss their impact on the global music industry

 

Meet Your Instructor

Ray Seol

 

Dr. Ray Seol is a faculty member in the Professional Music Department at Berklee College of Music in Boston, and a visiting fellow at Henley Business School in the United Kingdom. He is also a renowned jazz bassist and producer with decades of experience in the New York jazz scene. He has pioneered a unique approach to improvising and visualizing jazz as an art form through interactive technology.

His interactive jazz project, Seu Aprendiz, achieved significant acclaim, ranking No. 1 on the Roots Music Report’s Top 50 World Song Chart and No. 2 on the North American College & Community Radio Chart. Dr. Seol was also a key contributor to Yeahwon, the first Korean album nominated for a Latin Grammy. In 2024, he was honored as a recipient of the Grants for Creative Individuals, awarded by the Mass Cultural Council.

At Berklee, Dr. Seol has been a trailblazer in K-pop education, offering a popular course and delivering lectures at prestigious institutions such as the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) Boston and Wellesley College. He successfully launched two Berklee student idol groups, X-Change and B-Girls, transforming them from academic projects into professional-level concepts.

Dr. Seol holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Jazz Studies from The New School, a Master of Music in Music Technology from New York University, a Master of Arts in Arts Administration from Columbia University, and a Doctorate from Northeastern University, where his research focused on the sense of belonging and career development of international students majoring in contemporary music.

https://online.berklee.edu/masterclasses/k-pop-and-beyond-the-rise-of-a-global-sensation