Gyu Tag Lee

Gyu Tag Lee

Gyu Tag Lee

Associate Professor

Cultural Studies, Media Criticism, Popular Music, K-Pop and Hallyu, etc.

Gyu Tag Lee received his bachelor’s in English language and literature from Seoul National University, South Korea. After completing his three-year military service in the Republic of Korea Air Force, he received his master’s in communication from Seoul National University. In 2013, he earned his doctorate in Cultural Studies from George Mason University. Since 2014, he has been teaching at George Mason University-Korea.

He is an expert of popular music, media studies, globalization of culture, and especially, K-Pop. He has been writing books and articles about K-Pop, popular music and Hallyu for a number of on- and off-line media, and is a committee member of Korean Music Awards. Additionally, he has been interviewed by a number of Korean domestic and international media such as Wall Street Journal, South China Morning Post, Netflix's documentary Explained, EBS's public lecture Class e, Joong-Ang Ilbo, Chosun Ilbo, KBS, MBC, SBS, YTN, etc.

You can see my CV here: Gyu Tag Lee CV (as of August 2023)

서울대학교 영어영문학과를 졸업하고 동대학원 언론정보학과 석사, 美 George Mason 대학교 문화연구(Cultural Studies) 박사 학위를 받았다. 현재 한국조지메이슨대 교양학부 교수로 재직 중이며, 케이팝과 대중음악, 음악산업을 집중적으로 연구하고 있다. 저서로는 『케이팝의 시대』(2016), 『대중음악의 세계화와 디지털화』(2016), 『갈등하는 케이, 팝』(2020)이 있으며, 그 외 대중음악과 케이팝에 관한 다수의 글을 온/오프라인 매체에 기고하였다. 또한 월스트리트 저널, 사우스 차이나 모닝포스트, 넷플릭스 다큐멘터리 '익스플레인', EBS 공개 강좌 '클래스e', 중앙일보, 조선일보, KBS, MBC, SBS, YTN 등 다수의 국내외 미디어에 출연하였다.

Current Research

K-Pop, Music Industry, East Asian Cultural Convergence, Media Criticism

Selected Publications

Lee, Gyu Tag (2023). Z with Luv: Post-BTS and the future of K-Pop Z를 위한 시: Post-BTS와 케이팝의 미래 (in Korean). Seoul: 21st Century Books.

Lee, Gyu Tag (2021). New Generation Dance Music: The Beginning of K-Pop and J-Pop's Influence. In Seok-kyeong Hong and Dal Yong Jin (Eds.), Transnational Convergence of East Asian Pop Culture (pp. 75-95). New York: Routledge.

Lee, Gyu Tag (2020). K-Pop in Conflict: Between Local and Global Music갈등하는 케이, 팝: 한국적인 동시에 세계적인 음악 (in Korean). Seoul: Three Chairs.

Lee, Gyu Tag (2019). Faraway, So Close: Produce 48 and the Cultural-Industrial Collaboration between K-Pop and J-Pop. Korean Journal of Popular Music, 24, 251-288.

Lee, Gyu Tag (2016). The K-Pop Age케이팝의 시대 (in Korean). Paju: Hanul M-Plus.

Expanded Publication List

Books

Lee, Gyu Tag (2023). Z with Luv: Post-BTS and the future of K-Pop Z를 위한 시: Post-BTS와 케이팝의 미래 (in Korean). Seoul: 21st Century Books.

Lee, Gyu Tag (2020). K-Pop in Conflict: Between Local and Global Music갈등하는 케이, 팝: 한국적인 동시에 세계적인 음악 (in Korean). Seoul: Three Chairs

Lee, Gyu Tag (2016). Globalization and Digitalization of Popular Music대중음악의 세계화와 디지털화 (in Korean). Seoul: Communication Books.

Lee, Gyu Tag (2016). The K-Pop Age케이팝의 시대 (in Korean). Paju: Hanul M-Plus.

Journal Articles/Book Chapters

Park, Daemin and Lee, Gyu Tag (2022). Industrialization, Financialization, and Startupization of the Korean Wave : New Big Data Analysis of Hallyu and K-POP for 21 Years한류의 산업화, 금융화, 그리고 스타트업화 : 한류와 K-POP 보도 21년치 뉴스 빅데이터 분석을 중심으로 (in Korean). In Korean Journal of Communication and Information, 112, 7-66.

Lee, Gyu Tag (2021). Transferring K-Pop Knowhows to East Asian Countries and the Role of Korean Government동아시아 내(內) K팝 노하우의 전수와 정부의 역할 (in Korean). In Issue and Policy, No. 382. URL: Issue and Policy No 382

Lee, Gyu Tag (2021). How K-Pop Has Become Different from Other Global Pop Music Genres케이팝은 어떻게 차별화된 독자적인 장르로 자리 잡았나 (in Korean). In GoHaeSangDo (webzine). URL: http://naver.me/5eG1BzHt

Lee, Gyu Tag (2021). New Generation Dance Music: The Beginning of K-Pop and J-Pop's Influence. In Seok-kyeong Hong and Dal Yong Jin (Eds.), Transnational Convergence of East Asian Pop Culture (pp. 75-95). New York: Routledge.

Lee, Gyu Tag (2020). Globalization of K-Pop and Personal Internet Media Platform (in Korean). In KSJCS (Ed.), The Empire of Media Platforms: Challenge and Future Prospects (pp. 142-176). Paju: Hanul Academy.

Lee, Gyu Tag (2019). Gen Z, Sincerity, and Nationalism: The Meaning of BTS's Global Success젠지, 진정성, ‘K’: BTS의 성공이 보여주는 것들 (in Korean). In/Outside: English Studies in Korea, 47, 208-234.

Lee, Gyu Tag (2020). BTS: Sincerity as a BrandBTS: 진정성이라는 브랜드 (in Korean). In Book Journalism (Eds.), Brand of Brand (pp. 35-63). Seoul: Three Chairs.

Lee, Gyu Tag (2020). K-Pop in Conflict: Between Local and Global Music갈등하는 케이, 팝: 한국적인 동시에 세계적인 음악 (in Korean). Seoul: Three Chairs.

Lee, Gyu Tag (2019). Faraway, So Close: Produce 48 and the Cultural-Industrial Collaboration between K-Pop and J-Pop. Korean Journal of Popular Music, 24, 251-288.

Lee, Gyu Tag (2019). Gen Z, Sincerity, and Nationalism: The Meaning of BTS's Global Success젠지, 진정성, ‘K’: BTS의 성공이 보여주는 것들 (in Korean)". In/Outside: English Studies in Korea, 47, pp. 208-234.

Lee, Gyu Tag (2019). BTS: New Directions for K-Pop’s Ongoing Global Success. East Asia Foundation Policy Debates, No. 116.

Lee, Gyu Tag (2018). BTS: New Generation and Emotional Labour방탄소년단: 새로운 세대의 새로운 소통 방식, 그리고 감정노동 (in Korean). Culture and Science, 93, pp. 278-291.

Lee, Gyu Tag, Jung, Young-ah and Kim Dae Young (2017). Cultural Transnational Activities: The Consumption of Transnational Media. In Dae Young Kim et al, Transnational Communities in the Smartphone Age: The Korean Community in the Nation’s Capital (pp. ). Lanham: Lexington Books.

Lee, Gyu Tag (2016). K-Pop and the Global Active Audience: The Transnatoinality of Naver Webcast Service ‘V-Live'실시간 인터넷 방송과 케이팝, 그리고 수용자: 네이버 ‘브이앱’을 중심으로 (in Korean). Journal of Arts Management, 39, 33-65.

Lee, Gyu Tag (2015). K-Pop Branding and Motown Soul케이팝 브랜딩과 모타운 소울 (in Korean). Korean Journal of Popular Music, 14, 8-39.

Lee, Gyu Tag (2011). Between Globality and Locality: Emerging Korean hip-hop한국 힙합 음악 장르의 형성을 통해 본 대중문화의 세계화와 토착화 (in Korean). Korean Studies, 36, 59-84.

Korean Translations

Lee, Gyu Tag et al. (Trans.) (2021). Entertainment Science엔터테인먼트 사이언스 (in Korean), originally written by Thorsten Hennig-Thurau and Mark B. Houston. Paju: Hanul M Plus.

Lee, Gyu Tag and Kim, D.W. (Trans.) (2017). Motown: The Sound of Young America모타운: 젊은 미국의 사운드 (in Korean), originally written by Adam White et al.. Seoul: Taerim Score.

Lee, Gyu Tag (Trans.) (2016). The Uses of Literacy교양의 효용 (in Korean), originally written by Richard Hoggart. Paju: Spring of May.

Courses Taught

ANTH 114 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
COMM 380 Media Criticism
CULT 320
Globalization and Culture
GLOA 101 Introduction to Global Affairs
GLOA 450 K-Pop, Hallyu, and Korean Society
KORE 320 Korean Popular Culture in a Global World
MUSI 102 Popular Music in the US
PROV 105 American Culture

Education

BA. English Language and Literature영어영문학과, Seoul National University서울대학교, Seoul, South Korea
MA. Communication언론정보학과, Seoul National University서울대학교, Seoul, South Korea
PhD. Cultural Studies, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA

Recent Presentations

"Cultural Hybridity in K-Pop". Association for Asian Studies (AAS) in Asia. Kyungpook University, Daegu, South Korea. Jun 26, 2023.

"K-Pop History and Canon by Fans". UK-Korea Hallyu Network 2nd Conference. Asia Center, SNU, Seoul, South Korea. April 7, 2023.

"K vs. Pop: Is K-Pop Without 'K' Possible?". International Association for the Study of Popular Music (IASPM) Biannual Conference. Exco, Daegu, South Korea. July 7, 2022.

“K-Pop Without ‘K’”. Korean Wave In North America. George Mason University, Fairfax, US. January 15, 2021.

"Construction of Musical Taste by Internet Music Platforms: Chart, Curation, and Playlist”. Korean Association of Cultural Studies (KACS). Online Conference. August 29, 2020.

"K-Pop in Conflict". K-Pop Beyond BTS: Media Technology, Creative Industries and Fandom Culture (hosted by Korean Society for Journalism and Communication Studies [KSJCS]). Yonsei University, South Korea. December 11, 2019.

In the Media

Selected Media Interviews and Op-ed Pieces

Korea Times 'Invasion of 'smart' albums'. (2023).
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2023/09/398_359670.html

CNN ''We can do it too’: Meet Blackswan, the K-pop group with no Korean members' (2023). 
https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/25/asia/blackswan-kpop-foreign-members-intl-hnk-dst

Korea Herald '[Exclusive] Nearly 30% of Hybe K-pop trainees are non-Koreans' (2023).
https://news.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20230731000524&md=20230731154451_BL

Korea Herald 'Attempts to poach popular K-pop artists nothing new' (2023).
https://news.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20230710000640&md=20230712003241_BL

BBC Korea "'K팝 아이돌이 된다는 건, 1000% 노력이 필요하다는 것'" (2023).
https://www.bbc.com/korean/articles/c1e0k7g4y8lo

SBS News '전세계 Gen Z(=Z세대) K팝으로 대동단결? 포스트 BTS는?ㅣ이규탁 교수편' (2023).
https://youtu.be/D37wKkvumVo

Korea Times 'Are K-pop concerts too expensive?' (2023).
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2023/07/732_353881.html

Reuters "Are they for real? South Korean girl band offers glimpse into metaverse" (2023).
https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/are-they-real-south-korean-girl-band-offers-glimpse-into-metaverse-2023-03-14/

KBS 1TV 시사기획 창 (2023).
https://youtu.be/AXWrjreyc04

Newsis뉴시스. "케이팝 어떻게 정리할 것인가…이규탁 'Z를 위한 시'"(2023).
https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=003&aid=0011778714

Korea Times "How will HYBE-SM collaboration transform K-pop industry?" (2023). https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2023/05/732_345210.html

CNN "'Gangnam Style' at 10: How Psy's smash hit sent Korean culture global" (2022). 
https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/psy-gangnam-style-10-years-intl-hnk/index.html?fbclid=IwAR0YJ9U400qZcWswmbZlpk1P_rrlzeyJlx8Kku0X1QsQ9ChKHQq2H7McXyE

Korea JoongAng Daily "[Exclusive Interview] Cultural appropriation and K-pop's unbalanced give and take" (2022). 
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2022/07/12/entertainment/kpop/lee-gyutag-kpop-kpop-critic/20220712151433008.html

JoongAng Ilbo중앙일보 "현아가 쓴 흑인용 곱슬머리 가발, 이게 지금 K팝이 놓친 것" (2022). 
https://www.joongang.co.kr/article/25094173

Arirang TV News "Diving Deep into K-pop Idol Genealogy; Names That Dominated the Scene" (2022).
https://youtu.be/0_BBr7zR0MY?t=212

Korea Times "[INTERVIEW] Korea needs more small-sized concert venues: Prof. Lee Gyu-tag" (2022). 
https://m.koreatimes.co.kr/pages/article.asp?newsIdx=328508

Elle "BTS Deserves A Grammy, But Do The Grammys Deserve BTS?" (2022)
https://www.elle.com/culture/music/a39616489/bts-grammy-awards-snub/?fbclid=IwAR0aOB7_sROo5zoYNkeGgdrXaobFHJ2JGBTPiwfFwD9GCgwyWNEmJePg6cE

South China Morning Post "Modern K-pop was born in April 1992 with I Know by Seo Taiji & Boys, a song that changed music’s trajectory in South Korea" (2022)
https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/artists-celebrities/article/3174628/k-pop-was-born-april-1992-i-know-seo-taiji-boys?fbclid=IwAR0ROqo8dj__mkXF9wArnJrKWnp_BGC1LuR62_YUyM0WXB-sxXAUANCKwnE

Arirang TV News The Daily Report "Korean Language Learning Boom" (2022)
https://youtu.be/WspibjT84Os

KBS 1TV Documentary Docu Insight "The Birth of K-Universe" (2021)
https://url.kr/9cdum5

KBS 2TV Documentary How K-Pop Saved Me (2021)
https://url.kr/g6zb75

Mnet Documentary Mama: The Original K-Pop Awards (2021)
https://youtu.be/AIa5BwzqcFk?t=788

Arirang TV News: Vietnamese pop artists come to South Korea to learn secret to K-pop success (2021)
https://youtu.be/xJcchmjOGjM?t=140

2021 Asia Song Festiva Forum (2021)
https://youtu.be/RfCTn1kzoOI?t=6145

Yonhap News Korea Now "Criticism on BTS all-English Tracks: We asked fans, experts, and Hybe" (2021).
https://youtu.be/Rk01URytPnI?t=404

EBS Lecture Series Class e (2021)
https://classe.ebs.co.kr/classe/detail/404154/40009039

Chosun Ilbo조선일보 "The 5 Most Underrated K-Pop Girl Band" (2021)
https://www.chosun.com/culture-life/culture_general/2021/03/30/YJV266SJM5CVXC5NUUVA47M7BA/

YTN News (2021)
https://youtu.be/9Ga0Kb6fXNY?t=102

Chosun Ilbo조선일보 "Melon for Gayo, Spotify for Pop, and Tidal for Classic" (2021)
https://www.chosun.com/culture-life/2021/03/24/TF7UVJGM5FDJHOIUKIJBVF4BH4/

Korea Times "Unstoppable Hallyu: Will It Last?" (2021)
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2021/01/398_301839.html?fbclid=IwAR0RS034zdHqBSU9ZP6c8DSNilFtPdyTCJ9vSXwWiJPUwsmPoOdALHFWizA

Chosun Ilbo조선일보 "BTS comforts the global Youth" (2020)
https://www.chosun.com/culture-life/music_concert/2020/11/26/OBWGUDDHQNDX3EAXKTFCOTZEUA/

Korea Times "Debates: Should K-Pop be apolitical vs. political?" (2020).
https://youtu.be/j98_aPora-U

Chosun Ilbo조선일보 "Blackpink as an essence of K-Pop" (2020)
https://www.chosun.com/culture-life/music_concert/2020/10/15/C76DND3XHRBOHGGXX4JFE2L25M/

Arirang TV News In-Depth (2020)
https://youtu.be/QaY2IPgeiPk

JoongAng Ilbo중앙일보 "Darkness" (2020)
https://news.joins.com/article/23709491

JoongAng Ilbo중앙일보 "Hyuk-Oh" (2020)
https://news.joins.com/article/23703760

SBS TV Unanswered Questions그것이 알고 싶다 (2020)
https://programs.sbs.co.kr/culture/unansweredquestions/vod/55075/22000368158

TBS eFM News Show Korea, Factual (2019)
http://tbs.seoul.kr/player/replay.do?playType=AOD&fileUrl=rtmp://58.234.158.60:1935/eFMAOD/mp4:efmaod/2019-10/1019KF003.mp4&channelCode=CH_E&programId=PG2061254E&boardCate=05&bseq=25006

Arirang TV News Show News In-Depth (2019)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1W04ZqZVpk8&t=1s

tvN Talk Show Coolkkadang (2019)
http://program.tving.com/tvn/coolkkadang/4/Vod/View/VOD/EA_54867

Monthly JoongAng월간중앙 "10 Years After Michael Jackson's Death" (2019).
http://jmagazine.joins.com/monthly/view/325739

JoongAng Ilbo중앙일보 "3rd Generation Idol, 3rd Generation K-Pop, and 3rd Generation Hallyu" (2018)
https://news.joins.com/article/22922605

Netflix Documentary Explained (2018)
https://www.netflix.com/kr/title/80216752

MBC News Desk (2018)
http://imnews.imbc.com/replay/2018/nwdesk/article/4606652_22663.html

KBS Documentary K-Pop World Festival (2018)
http://vod.kbs.co.kr/index.html?source=episode&sname=vod&stype=vod&program_code=T2018-0588&program_id=PS-2018175876-01-000&section_code=04&broadcast_complete_yn=N&local_station_code=00

JoongAng Ilbo중앙일보 "Dark Side of K-Pop" (2017)
https://news.joins.com/article/22239964

JoongAng Ilbo중앙일보 "IU and YOON Jong-sin" (2017)
https://news.joins.com/article/21956436

Chosun Ilbo조선일보 "Origin of K-Pop: Book Review of The K-Pop Age" (2016) http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2016/08/16/2016081600176.html