The University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles will introduce a groundbreaking academic course focused entirely on G-Dragon's musical career and cultural influence, beginning in spring 2026. The class, titled "Crooked Studies of K-pop: The Case of G-Dragon," will be taught by Professor Hye Jin Lee from the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.
This new offering represents the latest addition to a growing trend of prestigious universities incorporating pop culture studies into their curricula. Yale University and Harvard University have previously offered similar courses examining the cultural impact of major artists like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, demonstrating the academic legitimacy of studying contemporary music icons.
G-Dragon's agency, Galaxy Corporation, released a statement Friday expressing their enthusiasm about the academic recognition. "Introducing a course on G-Dragon at a prestigious institution like USC, particularly as he marks the 20th anniversary of his debut, is highly meaningful," the agency stated. "We believe this will further underscore the artistic depth and global influence of K-pop."
The K-pop superstar, whose real name is Kwon Ji-yong, made his debut in 2006 as the leader and primary songwriter of the iconic group BIGBANG under YG Entertainment. The group revolutionized the K-pop landscape with numerous chart-topping hits including "Lies," "Haru Haru," "Tonight," and "Bang Bang Bang," with many of these breakthrough songs being written or produced by G-Dragon himself.
Following his success with BIGBANG, G-Dragon launched his solo career in 2009 with the release of "Heartbreaker," which became a massive commercial and critical success. His most recent solo work, "Übermensch," was released earlier this year, continuing to showcase his artistic evolution and musical innovation.
G-Dragon's contributions to Korean culture and the global spread of K-pop have earned him significant recognition from his home country. In October, he became the youngest recipient of the Okgwan Order of Cultural Merit, Korea's second-highest honor in the arts, acknowledging his substantial contributions to music and cultural diplomacy.
The USC course is expected to examine G-Dragon's role in transforming K-pop from a regional phenomenon into a global cultural force, analyzing his artistic innovations, fashion influence, and impact on youth culture worldwide. This academic study will likely provide students with insights into how individual artists can shape entire cultural movements and influence international entertainment industries.
