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About the K-Wave: South Korean Entertainment, Business & Global Impact

  • Starts February
  • English
  • 30 ECTS
  • 6 months
Eindhoven
Hooked on the K-wave? Discover how South Korean entertainment, business, and global influence are shaping today’s culture in a K-wave minor that combines pop culture with real-world insights into Korea’s rise as a global powerhouse.

About this minor

The K-Wave minor immerses you in the dynamic world of Korean entertainment and global media innovation. Explore how K-pop, drama, and design became cultural exports and create your own cross-cultural content along the way. Collaborate with students from our partner university in South Korea, work on real-world assignments for multinational companies in the electronics industry, and visit major Dutch and South Korean businesses, and a top K-pop label during the study trip to South Korea. This minor blends fandom, fieldwork, and future-ready creativity in one unforgettable experience.

Why the minor About the K-Wave?

  • The only minor in the Netherlands with a focus on South Korea
  • International & multidisciplinary collaboration with top South Korean universities
  • A research project with world-leading companies
  • Engage in a short exchange to South Korea
 

More about this minor

This is the only minor in the Netherlands with a dedicated focus on South Korea. You’ll explore K-pop, K-drama, business innovation, and cultural influence through a unique blend of media, marketing, and global studies.

Collaboration is central. You will work with students from top South Korean universities across disciplines like business, biotech and culture, both online and during a short exchange. Korean students also travel to the Netherlands, making the experience truly international.

A major part of the programme is a 10 ECTS company-driven project, developed in partnership with leading industry players. You will tackle real business challenges and gain hands-on experience.

The minor is grounded in talent-based Education. You’ll work on projects aligned with your strengths, receive personal coaching, and take ownership of your learning.

Part of the programme includes an exchange trip to South Korea. This trip is partly supported by Fontys to keep it accessible and affordable.

 
 
International students in Seoul, South Korea

 

 

Programme

This minor will run from February until July.The lectures, coaching sessions, and workshops will take place on campus in Eindhoven and are scheduled on a maximum of 3 days per week, making it easier for students who travel from afar to manage their time. Company visits are organized in cities like Eindhoven and Amsterdam to provide real-world industry insights. The schedule of the minor will be provided to all registered students at the start of the programme in February. A typical week in the minor can be expected to amount to 20 – 25 hours of contact time on campus.

The K-Wave minor has the following six module learning outcomes (MLOs):

MLO 1: The student conducts applied qualitative and quantitative research on a current issue within the Korean market (e.g., K-Entertainment, K-Biotech, K-Business), and develops evidence-based strategic recommendations.

MLO 2: The student presents to and persuades an international audience, demonstrating intercultural competence, teamwork, and professional communication skills,

MLO 3: The student designs a marketing and branding strategy for Korean entertainment content in the European market, integrating global entertainment trends, cultural adaptation, and key aspects of intellectual property law.

MLO 4: The student analyzes and applies core Korean business practices—such as hierarchical decision-making, relationship-based networking, and the role of chaebols—in developing a strategic plan for a (Korean) company, considering global market dynamics and cross-cultural challenges.

MLO 5: The student investigates the global impact of K-pop and K-dramas by analyzing key factors such as media strategies, fan culture, and cultural policy, and evaluates how these shape global consumer behavior, cultural exchange, and entertainment trends through a case study or data-driven analysis.

MLO 6: The student analyzes how key historical events and cultural traditions in Korea influence contemporary Korean society and global perceptions of Korea, and critically reflects on their own role as a cultural intermediary in a globalized world.

At Fontys, we embrace talent-oriented learning. Instead of a traditional final exam or assignment, you will develop a portfolio in Portflow, showcasing a variety of evidence such as tutorials, reflection reports, and implementation plans. You take ownership of your own learning journey, deciding how best to demonstrate your achievement of the six learning outcomes. This process is guided and supported by the lecturers. Throughout the semester, there are two key feedback moments during which you will formally request input on their portfolio progress.
 

 

For who?

Students who are interested in South Korea, especially in the areas of entertainment, economy, and culture. There are no specific entry requirements regarding prior education, but it is essential that students possess research skills, as the project strongly emphasizes applying research methodologies. Students can demonstrate this through their transcripts, showing courses such as Research Skills or a project that required basic research skills. No basic courses on research methods are offered during the minor; the focus is primarily on the practical application of these skills.

English Language Proficiency

Students must also demonstrate sufficient proficiency in English.

Dutch students

You should have completed English at HAVO or MBO-4 level at minimum.

International students

A minimum English proficiency must be demonstrated with one of the following scores:

  • TOEFL: 80 or higher
  • IELTS: 6.0 or higher
  • Cambridge: 169 or higher (B2 level)
 

 

How to apply for this minor

Sign up for a minor starting in September from February 1 until July 1 at the latest.

Sign up for a minor starting in February from July 1 until December 15 at the latest.

Please note

  • Not every minor starts in February and in September. You can find the start dates at the top of the minor's page.
  • To take part in the minor, you must have obtained your propaedeutic diploma or have permission from the examination board of your programme.

 
 

Agenda

Register here for one of our activities. This way you can be sure whether this is the minor for you! We hope to see you soon!

There are currently no activities planned for this study programme. Please contact us if you have any further questions.

Practical information

The language of the minor is English.

A minor regulation informs you about what you will learn, how the assessment is structured, and when you have completed the minor. As a student, you can derive rights from the minor regulation.

Go to minor regulations

 

Contact

Eindhoven

Rachelsmolen 1, 5612 MA
Building R3/R4
fec@fontys.nl
Ms. R. Güngör (Academic Lead of the minor)
r.gungor@fontys.nl