K-Factor, a unique concert presented by Lincoln Center, cast a light on the often overlooked musical innovations and radical spirit of the global phenomenon that is K-pop. On June 20, a 50-piece symphony orchestra performed live at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, with a program comprising a curated set of songs arranged to highlight the distinct musical ingenuity present in Korean music new and old. The selections showcased well-known hits by K-pop artists like Blackpink, BTS, EXO, Red Velvet, Seo Taiji and more, placing them in dialogue with noteworthy deep cuts and milestone recordings dating back to the early 1900s. The show seeks to create a historical and aesthetic context that is as entertaining as it is revelatory. For more information on the concert, visit www.kfactor.org.
Joined by Jakob Dorof, creative consultant of this original concert; Chris Lee, A&R Executive at SM Entertainment and CEO of CTGA Europe; and Soeun Lee, a K-pop star turned New York attorney. They discussed the creative evolution of K-pop, the musical ingenuity and many signature features of Korean music new and old, and its ongoing impact on contemporary music around the world.
A Conversation on K-Factor: An Orchestral Exploration of K-pop at Lincoln Center
with
Jakob Dorof, Chris Lee and Soeun Lee
Wednesday, June 19, 2019 | 12 PM
The Korea Society
350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10017
Speakers
Jakob Dorof: One of the first to write in major Western media about K-pop’s formal ingenuity, Jakob Dorof moved to Seoul in 2014 to get better access to the artists and executives who have made K-pop an international phenomenon and wellspring of musical innovation. His work has been featured in various media outlets including Pitchfork, VICE, Spotify, GQ Korea and ELLE Korea. Currently, he is a weekly co-host of the Korean Broadcasting System’s One Fine Day radio show with the legendary balladeer Lena Park, and he consults extensively for major corporations about K-pop and the Asian markets. Dorof has a bachelor’s degree from Yale University, where he studied writing and music.
Chris Lee: Since joining SM Entertainment’s A&R department in 2005, Chris Lee has played a visionary role in the evolution of one of Asia’s leading entertainment companies, and one of the key influencers in Korean pop’s development over the past quarter century. As A&R executive and a member of SM Entertainment’s board of directors, Lee takes a hands-on approach to nearly every facet of SM’s output, fostering top global acts like SHINee, EXO, Red Velvet, and NCT. Lee also serves as CEO of CTGA Europe, leading a globe-spanning team of industry experts in EKKO Music Rights’ new offices in Korea, Japan, Sweden, Germany, and the United States.
Soeun Lee: Now a lawyer, musician and writer based in New York, Soeun Lee was a performing and recording artist in the Korean pop music industry since her debut in 1998. She released four studio albums, notched a number of major hits on the charts, and collaborated extensively with living legends and popular auteurs like Yoonsang, Lee Seunghwan, and Kim Dongryul. She received her undergraduate degree from Korea University in Seoul and, after a decade in the music industry, took a professional career turn and received her J.D. from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and practiced litigation and international arbitration in New York. Most recently, she served as Director of an international organization specializing in transnational disputes in New York. She currently serves as Executive Director and Founding Board Member of a non-for profit organization and music series, Music by the Glass.
