George Mason University Korea held the 1st iDesign seminar: K-content on the 22nd at its Songdo campus in Incheon.
The event was hosted by George Mason University Korea, with support from Incheon Metropolitan City, the Incheon Tourism Organization, Hanwha, and SM C&C.
The seminar was organized to explore strategies for Incheon to leap forward as a K-content hub and to share academic foundations and private sector best practices.
On the day of the event, George Mason University officially announced plans to establish a K-content research institute. This institute is expected to provide academic and policy support for the K-con-land project being promoted by the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority (IFEZ).
Joshua Park, director of George Mason University Korea, noted, "The K-Culture Media Research Institute, which is set to launch this year, will collaborate with Incheon in various fields, including the development of Incheon-style content discourse, academic research, and talent cultivation." He added, "This seminar will serve as a model for collaboration among industry, academia, and government, becoming a hub for promoting Korean culture and a starting point for designing the future of K-content."
Ik-kyu Tak, a professor in the Department of International Studies at George Mason University, said, "The Korean Wave, which began with the popularity of drama in the Chinese-speaking world, has expanded into the realm of Korean media following the global success of K-pop and has now led to a global interest in Korean society and culture." He added, "Now is the time to consider the future of the Korean Wave, K-culture, and K-content, and the importance of region-based content development is becoming even greater."