Producer Kim Hyung-suk to lecture on K-pop at Oxford University

Poster for Kim Hyung-suk's lecture at Oxford University [OXFORD UNIVERSITY]

Famed music producer and composer Kim Hyung-suk will visit Oxford University to deliver a special lecture about the history and future of K-pop.

Kim's lecture, titled “K-pop from the Godfather of K-pop,” will take place in the 350-year-old Sheldonian Theater. The composer will share his thoughts on topics including the rise of virtual singers in the metaverse and the role of AI in music, according to a post on Oxford University's website dated June 13.

Kim is also set to perform his hits on stage. He will be the first Asian pop artist to perform in the theater, which usually hosts graduation ceremonies and western classical music concerts.

The performance is set to kick off with late Korean folk singer Kim Kwang-seok’s “For the Reason of Love” (1991), which Kim Hyung-suk composed and wrote the lyrics to. Composer Kim and will perform the song in Korean alongside a male student of Oxford's Christ Church Cathedral Choir.

Composer Kim is set to perform “Hangul Song” as well. Professor Jieun Kiaer, whose Korean name is Cho Ji-eun, of Oxford's Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies penned the lyrics, with aims to teach listeners the Korean alphabet.

Kim debuted as a composer in 1989 and has since worked with numerous artists, including Lee Moon-sae, Im Jae-bum, Uhm Jung-hwa, Kim Gun-mo and Jo Sung-mo, creating countless hit songs. He is also well-known for composing the themes for the film “My Sassy Girl” (2001) and the SBS drama “All In” (2003).

BY KIM MIN-YOUNG [kim.minyoung5@joongang.co.kr]