Episode
The economics behind the rise of BTS and Korean culture
- Podcast
- Make Me Smart
- Published
- Mar 20, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1950
- Processing state
not_requested
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Summary
From the success of “K-pop Demon Hunters” to the return of BTS, K-pop is having a moment. But the rise of Korean culture was no accident—it has a decades-long backstory of investment by the South Korean government. On “Economics on Tap,” Kimberly talks with Michelle Cho, researcher of East Asian pop cultures at the University of Toronto, about the history behind the spread of Korean culture and how it’s shaped industries from entertainment to beauty. Speaking of K-beauty: sunscreen or sheet masks? Here’s everything we talked about today: ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Leads the Wave Back to Korea from Foreign Policy BTS Is Back With ‘Arirang,’ but the K-Pop Landscape Has Changed from The New York Times K-everything: the rise and rise of Korean culture from The Guardian "Americans Are Learning Korean Because of ‘KPop Demon Hunters’" from The New York Times "What’s So Special About Korean Sunscreens?" from Vogue "How K-pop Stars Are Leading Mental Health Conversations for AAPI People and Beyond" from Teen Vogue We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email [email protected] .