Korean & Japanese Pop-Culture

Explore Korean & Japanese Pop Culture Across Seoul, Kyoto and Tokyo

Explore the creative industries behind Korean and Japanese pop culture on this immersive 14-day program through South Korea and Japan. Travelling through Seoul, Kyoto and Tokyo, participants explore K-pop, the Korean Wave, anime, manga, gaming, fashion and media while discovering how two of Asia’s most influential pop culture industries became global phenomena.

Explore K-pop and Hallyu in Seoul

In Seoul, experience the Korean Wave, or Hallyu, through K-pop, Korean media, fashion and entertainment. Activities may include a K-pop lecture and dance class, visits to filming and media-related locations, and time exploring neighbourhoods and cultural spaces connected to contemporary Korean trends.

Participants gain a broader understanding of how music, television, digital media, fashion and fandom have helped Korean popular culture reach audiences around the world.

Discover anime, manga and gaming in Japan

Continue to Kyoto and Tokyo to explore Japanese anime, manga, gaming and entertainment culture. Experience the contrast between historic Japanese traditions and modern creative industries, from Kyoto’s cultural heritage to Akihabara and Tokyo’s major pop culture districts.

Understand how pop culture goes global

Across South Korea and Japan, the program explores how entertainment, technology, tradition, identity and fan communities influence the creation and global spread of contemporary Asian culture.

Visa & Entry Information

South Korea visa requirements:

If you are a citizen of the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, some EU countries and others in this LIST, you are only required to apply for a visa exemption K-ETA

If you are a citizen of another country not in the list above, you may be required to apply for a visa. Check this website to see if you need a visa. We also recommend reaching out to the South Korea embassy/consulate in your country/city to confirm the visa type that applies to you.

Whilst we provide guidance on the visa application process, the cost of your Korea visa or visa exemption is not included in the Program Fee. It is recommended you submit the visa application at least 4 weeks prior to your Program Start Date. Immigration regulations are constantly changing, so it is advised that you pay attention to updates on the aforementioned list.

Japan visa requirements:

There is no visa required if you are a citizen of a country on this list.

OR

For countries that do not benefit from visa exemption, you might need to apply for a visa. Please contact your local Japanese Embassy/Consulate-General for more information on the visa type that applies to you, as well as the application process. The cost of your visa is not included in the Program Fee. It is recommended that you submit the visa application at least 4 weeks prior to your Program Start Date. Immigration regulations are constantly changing, so it is advised that you pay attention to updates on the aforementioned list.