Over the past decade K-pop has grown worldwide, become a global mainstream cultural phenomenon in the Western world, and so it happens to be there is a K-Pop club at Central.  

Members say it is a very welcoming community where students can gather, have fun, discuss their favorite K-Pop idols and share their love for Korean culture. 

Senior Caden Parker is the president of K-Pop club, and she has watched K-Pop grow into the mainstream.  

“It’s pretty awesome that it’s reaching more of a global audience, I feel like it gives people more of an opportunity to connect across cultures,” Parker said.  

As K-pop grows worldwide, from being called “weird” to now becoming a booming industry, K-pop has been a powerful interest for members of K-pop club, bringing different students together through a shared love of music and culture. 

Another member of the club, Panda Akue, sees K-Pop being mainstream as good for the industry.  “I feel like that’s great for the industry. It’s also great for the people coming in to listen to and listen to and discover new music,” Akue said.  

Freshman Ana Longino Lucio said, “People have been getting into K-pop more, switching up their music taste and getting into the Korean culture. People found it weird to like K-pop and like it was weird and it wasn’tmainstream, but I’m actually happy now more people are more inclusive.” 

Dancing is a key part of K-Pop, and it is what pulled Akue into K-Pop. Currently her favorite band is Seventeen. 

“What helped pull me in was the crazy moves,” Akue said. 

Longino Lucio’s favorite band is Twice, and the reason she got into K-pop was her sister “My sister showed me her favorite group and showed me each member to learn each of their name,” she said.  

Parker, the K-pop club leader, loves Tomorrow X Together. The reason she got into K-pop was the amazing videos.  

“I got into K-pop because of the creative visuals and the effort that goes into music Video production,” Parker said.