UPCOMING CKR EVENT: From Youthful Idols to Elderly Treasures: An Examination of Performers as Cultural Ambassadors of the Nation

Event Description: Besides being artists in their own right, K-pop idols and traditional performers both serve as assets in nation branding. As part of outward-facing promotion since the late 1990s, K-pop idols have been used to build soft power. High-ranked performers of heritage arts are likewise treated as representatives of the nation, with direct support from the government. Based on interview texts, performances, and other media appearances, I analyze the strategic use of these artists and their iconography. First, I consider how national identity in Korea positions performers as cultural ambassadors. What services do they perform for the nation, and what do they receive in return? Could they reject this role without jeopardizing their career? Second, K-pop performers are encouraged to demonstrate individuality and attract attention, while traditional performers are often pushed towards the exact opposite, foregrounding their embodiment of heritage rather than their individuality. What different agendas do these projected images serve and what happens when they overlap—for instance when K-pop stars wear traditional clothes or pansori singers perform pop songs? Third, I consider how these two methods supplement each other, promoting and elevating Korea as a nation that is modern and trendy, yet boasts a deep history and unique traditions.

Speaker info: CedarBough T. Saeji is a visiting assistant professor in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures at Indiana University, Bloomington. Saeji has previously held positions at the University of British Columbia, Korea University, and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. A scholar of Korean performance who approaches issues from gender to cultural policy through examining everything from traditional mask dance dramas to the latest K-pop hits, Saeji’s first two 2021 publications are “Thinking through Intertextuality in Korean Pop Music Videos” in Translation Review and “A Short History of Afro-Korean Music and Identity” in Journal of World Popular Music (with Kim Kyung Hyun); another publication on Korean hip-hop is slated for publication before April. Saeji tweets @TheKpopProf.