Not Just K-pop: Deep-Dive Korean Culture Lecture Series Arrives in SA

Post Date08.05.2025
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A first-of-its-kind cultural lecture series exploring the roots of Korean identity has been launched in South Africa, offering the public a rare opportunity to go beyond K-pop and delve into Korea’s values, traditions, and societal foundations.

Titled K-IDENTITY: A Deep Dive into Korean Identity, the 8-week programme began on Wednesday, 7 May and is hosted by the Korean Cultural Centre in Pretoria. It is the first structured, academic-style course in the country dedicated entirely to unpacking Korea’s cultural identity through themes such as religion, history, geography, food, housing, language, and lifestyle.

While Korean pop culture has gained immense popularity worldwide, K-IDENTITY takes a bold step in a different direction—shifting focus from entertainment to in-depth cultural understanding.

The programme was developed over several months by a specially recruited research and teaching assistant team earlier this year. This group worked closely with experts to build the course framework and will present their own lecture during the final week, contributing original research and insights. Their role reflects the Centre’s aim to cultivate future cultural leaders through hands-on experience and mentorship.

Each weekly session examines a specific pillar of Korean society—ranging from ancient belief systems to contemporary living practices—and encourages participants to reflect critically on how identity is formed and expressed.

Free to attend and open to registered participants, the course runs every Wednesday from 7 May to 25 June at the Korean Cultural Centre SA. The inaugural session drew a full house and sparked lively discussion, signaling a growing appetite for deeper cultural learning.

“This is a programme we’ve envisioned for a long time,” said Jiyoel YOU, Director of the Korean Cultural Centre.

“In recent years, global interest in Korea has grown rapidly, but that interest has largely remained on the surface—focused on entertainment and consumer trends. We felt a strong responsibility to respond with something more meaningful: a space where people can examine Korea’s identity through a cultural, historical, and philosophical lens.

K-IDENTITY is not just a course—it’s an invitation to think more deeply about what defines a country’s character and soul. Our hope is that this series opens up long-term dialogue, not just about Korea, but about the ways culture shapes our shared humanity. That’s why this programme matters.”

Looking ahead, the Centre plans to develop K-IDENTITY into an annual cultural education initiative, paving the way for more in-depth and intellectually engaging programmes in the years to come.