LAUSD, K-pop curriculum to be offered as regular subject from 2025-2026 school year

"K-pop group creation essential element? Fandom. Beyond a pillar of marketing, fandom determines a group's survival," a teacher explained.

On the 10th (local time), in a classroom at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, California, an in-depth Q&A session on K-pop took place.

Students presented projects, setting up a virtual group and deciding on music concepts, member positions, nationalities, names, and fandom names, much like a meeting at a music agency.

This is part of the 'K-pop Curriculum' class, which will be a regular subject in the 2025-2026 academic year at the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).

The course, developed by LAUSD and the Consulate General of Korea in Los Angeles, has been adopted as a regular elective for middle and high school students. It goes beyond simply listening to and enjoying K-pop, teaching students about the industry structure, marketing, and planning.

As interest in K-pop grows in the United States, the curriculum has been warmly welcomed by students.

Leila, an 11th grader who presented a virtual group called 'Starlight,' said, "I initially joined to fill my credits, but seeing various genres and groups became increasingly interesting. This class has made me approach K-pop with a more open mind. It's a wonderful culture in that people worldwide can connect without knowing the language."

Suji Bae, a teacher, commented, "I grew up in LA's Koreatown, but K-pop wasn't as global as it is now. K-pop has grown explosively in recent years. Students are enthusiastically participating and are incredibly proactive. Thanks to student demand, the number of classes has increased from one to three."

Currently, each class has 35 students, with a total enrollment of over 100.

A notable aspect of this class is that some students have been given the opportunity to directly visit K-pop industry sites and experience the 현장 (field) firsthand.

Laila Cavadis, a 9th grader participating in the class, said, "I discovered the world of K-pop six years ago and was completely captivated. When I heard about this course, I thought, 'Wow, I have to take this.' High school life is very stressful, and being able to share my hobby at school and work on projects with friends was something I looked forward to."

Regarding the industry visit experience, she added, "Seeing K-pop group photos displayed in every hallway made my heart race. It made me consider career paths, like working with K-pop groups in the future, helping them realize their potential and grow globally."

The effort behind this was by LAUSD and the Consulate General of Korea in Los Angeles. Since 2024, Jiae Byun Kitayama, Director of LAUSD, has led the curriculum development.

Jieun Lee, Consular Education Officer at the Consulate General of Korea, stated, "We started with the idea that it would be good to sustain the Hallyu (Korean Wave) phenomenon. In the future, we plan to support opportunities to communicate and collaborate with Korean companies to promote areas of interest for the next generation, such as K-pop, e-sports, and K-food."

Fairfax High School is one of four schools that piloted the K-pop curriculum in the 2025-2026 academic year.

Leonard Choi, Principal of Fairfax High School, added, "We introduced this unique curriculum with the hope that students can experience diverse experiences and opportunities in the world. Children love music. Starting with K-pop, other music classes like on-campus hip-hop and rock and roll classes have also become more active."