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K-pop: Individual Cognition Theory

Joseph Hwang 1. Individualization of Value If I were to be asked to provide a concise definition of art that is grounded in the human senses, I would suggest that the key elements are "look (visual perception)" and "storytelling (narrative)." Any entity must exist in a cognizable form to communicate with other living beings. This form can be described as "appearance," while the narrative provides a temporal dimension, thus giving the entity life. It is only through the medium of life that art can create meaning; through this same medium, the message of that meaning can be conveyed.  It was previously stated that the economic value of each musical composition is unique. Similarly, the financial value of the artist who performs and delivers that music is also variable. Since music is an aural phenomenon, it lacks a visual representation. However, the artists who create and perform music possess a visual identity. Each artist possesses a distinctive appearanc
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Posted by Joseph Hwang

G-Dragon has been appointed as a visiting professor at KAIST

Joseph Hwang


Soon after a South Korean media outlet reported that G-Dragon, real name Kwon Ji-yong, a member of the K-pop group Big Bang, had become a visiting professor at KAIST's Department of Mechanical Engineering, the department's official website went down and could not be accessed. I think this shows just how much the general public is interested in the activities of K-pop artists.


◈ What is KAIST?


KAIST is a science and technology university in South Korea, consisting of 5 colleges, 7 schools, 13 graduate schools, and 27 departments, located in Daejeon City, middle district of South Korea. It was founded in 1971 to educate outstanding scientists and engineers, which seems to be like the position familiar to MIT in the USA at present. KAIST now studies and researches the convergence of science, technology, art, entertainment, intellectual property, and humanities using AI technology. At the center of it all is President Lee Kwang-hyung. 


◈ Why did KAIST hire G-Dragon as a professor?


The influence of KAIST President Lee Kwang-hyung is largely responsible for this.


President Lee Kwang-hyung has been called a geek since he was a professor. He often tried to break stereotypes and was always recognized as a unique person. After becoming president, he said that he would work hard to attract donations to KAIST because the university needed money more than anything else to conduct research and develop technology. For example, he also brought in world-renowned Koreans such as world-class soprano Sumi Jo, whom Herbert von Karajan called "the voice of God," as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the Graduate School of Culture and Technology, and recently awarded her an honorary doctorate and named a concert hall after her. In doing so, President Lee Kwang-hyung seems to be trying to achieve several effects. It is a publicity stunt for the school and a way to attract experts for convergent academic research. In this situation, recruiting a world-renowned K-pop artist could be a good strategic decision.


◈ What will G-Dragon do at KAIST in the future?


G-Dragon's appointment as a professor will be for two years, starting this June 4 and ending in June 2026. G-Dragon will also be appointed as a KAIST Global Ambassador, helping to strengthen KAIST's overseas promotion.


According to his management company, Galaxy Corporation, G-Dragon said, "I am honored to be a visiting professor at KAIST, which produces many scientific geniuses. "I look forward to the great synergy or 'big bang (Big Bang)' that will occur when the best science and technology experts and my entertainment expertise meet," he said.


"Many people are working with artificial intelligence in the music field, and this cutting-edge technology enables more diverse forms of creative work," he said. "Through the AI avatar developed by Galaxy Corporation and KAIST, I hope to communicate more closely with my fans around the world, whom I don't often get to meet."


Galaxy Corporation will also conduct joint research with KAIST to apply various technologies to art and cultural content. It will establish the "KAIST-Galaxy Corporation Entertech* Research Center (tentative name)" in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and conduct research on digital twin technology for Hallyu artists, starting with G-Dragon himself; research on the convergence of K-culture and science and technology such as artificial intelligence, robots, and metaverse; and the development of differentiated artist avatars using the latest technologies such as volumetric, motion capture, and haptics.


* ''Entertech'' is a combination of entertainment and technology, and refers to an industry that creates new added value by combining ICT with IP and content, which are the core values of entertainment.


** References and quotations:

https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-06-05/business/industry/Big-Bang-theory-GDragon-appointed-as-visiting-professor-at-KAIST/2062100

https://kaist.ac.kr/en/html/kaist/01.html#0118

https://kaist.ac.kr/en/html/kaist/011701.html

https://www.chosun.com/national/weekend/2022/04/30/LBHZPEH7YRFTFIC3KU7GFEJVLU/

https://www.joongang.co.kr/article/25229767#home

https://news.sbs.co.kr/news/endPage.do?news_id=N1007673281&plink=SHARE&cooper=COPY

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