At the end of March 2025, Jasmina Šepetavc, a member of the MEMPOP project team, participated in a short-term Erasmus+ exchange at Kyungpook National University (KNU) in Daegu, South Korea.

During her visit, she lectured on Slovenian popular music, with special attention to Slovenian folk pop. Accompanied by the sound of the globally beloved folk pop tune Na Golici, Jasmina introduced students and faculty members to the distinctive characteristics of the genre, discussing how music can both reflect and shape national and regional identities.

Kyungpook National University (KNU) is one of South Korea’s leading research institutions, located in the heart of Daegu. Established in 1946, KNU has grown into a major hub for higher education in South Korea, fostering a vibrant community of students and scholars from around the world. The university’s logo features a “cutified” version of Hobanu – the Korean Brindle Cattle, a symbol of simplicity and strength. Here she/he/they are, living their best student life!

Discovering Daegu

Daegu, South Korea’s fourth-largest city, offers a rich cultural backdrop for visitors. Often nicknamed “Daefrica” (대프리카) – a playful blend of Daegu and Africa – due to its hot and humid climate, the city is perhaps most famously known as the birthplace of Samsung, one of the world’s leading technology companies. However, Daegu’s identity extends far beyond its technological achievements.

Daegu has a deep-rooted tradition of music and activism. Throughout the 20th century, music became a vital form of expression for those advocating for social justice and political change. One of Daegu’s most beloved cultural figures is Kim Kwang-seok, an activist folk singer-songwriter whose emotionally charged ballads captured the emotional landscape of the Korean pre-democratic 1980s. A walk down Kim Kwang-seok Street, dedicated to his life and legacy, reveals how profoundly music and civic spirit are intertwined in the cultural fabric of Daegu. It is a city where music is not just entertainment, but an enduring form of storytelling and community identity – making it a particularly meaningful setting for MEMPOP’s exploration of popular music, memory and communal uses of popular culture.