Understanding contemporary South Korea through K-pop Sociologist John Lie critically examines development of K-pop in new book Characterized by a Western sound, synchronized dance moves and a repetitive and addictive melody, and sung by well-crafted performers with a dedicated following, K-pop, or contemporary South Korean music, has become a defining aspect of modern Korean culture, gaining international recognition over the past decade. The government, media and entrepreneurs have taken a keen interest in K-pop, which has managed to bring Korean influences to various corners of the world. Its impact goes beyond the Asia-Pacific to unexpected nooks in parts of Europe, the Americas and even the Middle East. Clearly, the success of K-pop is very much real and its legacy significant, so the difficult question remains: How are we to make sense of this sudden development and outgrowth of South Korean popular culture? Sociologist John Lie, a professor of sociology and the chairman of the Center for Korean Studies at UC Berkeley, attempts to answer this question with his upcoming book “K-pop: Popular Music, Cultural Amnesia and Economic Innovation in South Korea.” By discussing the preconditions and changes in South Korea that led to the development of export-oriented K-pop, Lie provides a detailed analysis of the music genre to explain the country’s economic, social and cultural transformations. “I think K-pop is very interesting because it really says a lot about South Korea. If you think about all the major social and cultural changes that have happened in the last 20 years, (you can see that) K-pop really exemplifies all of that,” said Lie in an interview with The Korea Herald on Wednesday. Lie’s new book delves into K-pop, touching on various aspects including its historical development, characteristics and sociocultural meaning.