On December 5, Galaxy Corporation, G-Dragon’s agency, announced that the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism will open a 4-credit course titled “COMM 400: Deconstructing K-pop — The G-Dragon Case Study” in the spring 2026 semester.
The course will be led by Professor Hyejin Lee, whose research focuses on culture, media and global communication. Through an in-depth exploration of G-Dragon’s artistry, students will examine K-pop through a renewed critical lens, well beyond the genre’s typical industry frameworks.
The curriculum will highlight G-Dragon’s status as an “idol-producer,” his creative authorship and his far-reaching cultural influence across fashion, music and visual aesthetics. The course will also challenge long-standing narratives that frame K-pop as “mechanical, overly commercial, or lacking artistic autonomy,” reframing the structural and aesthetic assumptions of the genre.
Galaxy Corporation highlighted the significance of this moment:
“This is the first time that USC Annenberg, considered one of the best communications schools in the world, has established a full-credit course entirely focused on a single K-pop artist. Just like the one at Yale Beyoncé course and that of Harvard Taylor Swift seminar, the academic world is formally recognizing the cultural and industrial value of G-Dragon’s creative universe.”
Galaxy Corporation CEO Choi Yong-ho described the course as a fitting tribute to the star’s legacy:
“As G-Dragon celebrates his 20th anniversary, it is deeply meaningful that a university as prestigious as USC is academically highlighting his global cultural impact. This confirms, once again, the artistic depth and global influence of K-pop.”
G-Dragon’s influence has continued to expand beyond music. In June last year he was appointed Visiting Professor in Mechanical Engineering at KAIST, with his tenure extended until June next year. His interdisciplinary presence in both academia and pop culture illustrates his multifaceted impact.
The announcement follows G-Dragon’s high-profile appearance in 2025 MAMA Awardswhere he delivered an amazing performance and won four awards, including Artist of the Year, Best Male Artist, Best Male Solo Dance Performance and Fan Top 10. Shortly after, she attended the Chanel 2026 Métiers d’Art Collection event, continuing her active presence on the global fashion scene.
As K-pop’s academic footprint continues to grow, USC’s new G-Dragon course represents one of the most concrete acknowledgments yet of the genre’s cultural legitimacy, reflecting how Korean pop culture, once considered niche, now shapes global media studies.
Sources: Wikitree
