International Symposium

8:30 AM - 9:30 AM Registration and welcome coffee

8:45 AM - 9:15 AM LASALLE Campus Tour

You are cordially invited to embark on a unique journey through LASALLE's iconic city campus.

Designed by RSP Architects, this architectural marvel has been recognized globally by representing Singapore at the 2004 Venice Biennale and winning three international architectural awards: 2009 PUSH Award, 2008 Building of the Year Award, and 2009 President’s Design Award.

Join us for the signature Campus Tour to discover the fusion of art, design, and architecture that defines LASALLE's unique learning environment.

9:30 AM - 9:45 AM Welcome Address from the University of the Arts Singapore

Kwok Kian Woon, Vice-Chancellor
University of the Arts Singapore, Singapore

9:45 AM - 10:00 AM Welcome Address from LASALLE

Venka Purushothaman, Deputy President and Provost
LASALLE, University of the Arts Singapore, Singapore

10:00 AM - 10:15 AM Welcome Note from the Korea Foundation Professor

Kwan Min Lee, Korea Foundation Professor in Contemporary Korean Society and New Media
Director, WKW UX (User Experience) Lab
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

10:15 AM - 11:00 AM Keynote Presentation

AI Encounters the Korean Wave: Cultural Production’s Perspective
Dal Yong Jin, Distinguished Professor in Global Communications
Simon Fraser University, Canada

11:00 AM - 11:30 PM Keynote Presentation

The Power of Mapping: definition, assumptions, notions, concepts, and interpretations from Leonardo Da Vinci to the Singularity
Andrea Nanetti, Associate Professor, School of Art, Design and Media
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

11:30 PM - 12:00 PM Launch of the Mapping Application: Hallyu Tracker

Introducing Hallyu Tracker
Natalia Grincheva, Program Leader, BA (Hons) Arts Management
LASALLE, University of the Arts Singapore, Singapore

12:00 PM - 12:30 PM Expert Panel Discussion

Irene Wu, Adjunct Professor, Georgetown University
Senior Economist, Office of Economic Analysis, Federal Communications Commission, USA

Hedren Sum, Research Fellow for Digital Humanities, Department of English, Linguistics, and Theatre Studies
National University of Singapore, Singapore

Gerald Sim, School of Communication & Multimedia Studies
Florida Atlantic University, USA

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM Lunch

Undergraduate Research Interactive Digital Posters Showcase:
Hallyu through the Eyes of Generation Z

Non-Korean Hallyu Ambassadors: How Foreign Influencers Enhance Cross-Cultural Hallyu Circulation
Rebekah Lai, 2025 BA (Hons) in Arts Management Candidate
LASALLE, University of the Arts Singapore, Singapore

From Entertainment to Diplomacy: Evolution of the K-Pop Idols Media Image in the Past Three Decades
Lim Yan Bing, 2025 BA (Hons) in Arts Management Candidate
LASALLE, University of the Arts Singapore, Singapore

Crafting Mega K-pop Idol Identity: Demystifying BTS Astronomical Global Success
Looi Juin Ling, 2025 BA (Hons) in Arts Management Candidate
LASALLE, University of the Arts Singapore, Singapore

Entertainment Governance? Behind the Scenes of the C-Wave Ecosystem
Yee Xing Qing, 2025 BA (Hons) in Arts Management Candidate
LASALLE, University of the Arts Singapore, Singapore

1:30 PM - 2:00 PM Keynote Presentation

The changing geopolitics of global media flows and contraflows
Daya Thussu, Professor of International Communication
Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong

2:00 PM - 2:30 PM Panel: The Complexities of Hallyu: From Global Phenomenon to Cultural Conflict

The Characteristics of the Anti-Hallyu
HwaJung Kim, Research Professor, Institute for International Area Studies
Ewha Womans University, South Korea

Korean Wave And Public Policy: Examining State’s Role In Transnational Cultural Phenomenon
Youngaah Koh, Assistant Professor of Arts Management & Arts Entrepreneurship
Miami University, USA

Mapping K-pop Concerts: Spatially Situating K-pop Consumption
So Yoon Lee, PhD Candidate, Department of Sociology
University of Chicago, USA

2:30 PM - 3:00 PM Discussion Panel

Pao Li Chang, Associate Dean (Research and Industry Engagement), Associate Professor of Economics
Singapore Management University, Singapore

Su-Fern Hoe, Assistant Professor, Lead Coordinator of the Arts and Culture Management Programme
Singapore Management University, Singapore

3:00 PM - 3:30 PM Keynote Presentation

Hallyu Dynamics: Unpacking Cultural Hybridity through Compressed Modernity
WoongJo Chang, Associate Professor of Arts and Cultural Management
Hongik University, South Korea

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM Panel: The Korean Wave's Ripple Effect: From Fandom to Diplomacy

Consuming the Soft Power of Hallyu
Nora Samosir, Lecturer (Theatre - Voice)
LASALLE, University of the Arts Singapore, Singapore
Lionel Wee, Provost's Chair Professor in the Department of English, Linguistics, and Theatre Studies
National University Singapore, Singapore

The Undercurrents of Hallyu Fandom in Indonesia
Gangsim Eom, PhD Candidate, Department of Anthropology
Harvard University, USA

The Power of BTS "Love Myself" Campaign: Digital fandom in China, Singapore and the USA
Josephine Choi, Research Assistant
Friedrich-Naumann-Foundation for Freedom, South Korea

"K-pop" ≠ "Korean Popular Music": The Politics of Branding Korean Culture
Wee Yang Soh, PhD Candidate, Department of Anthropology
University of Chicago, USA

4:30 PM - 5:00 PM Discussion Panel

J. Patrick Williams, Associate Professor, School of Social Sciences
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Seowon Chi, Convenor for the Korean Language Programme
National University of Singapore, Singapore