Korean Pop Music has become increasingly popular, not just in Korea, but internationally. The Billboard Hot 100 has seen an influx of K-Pop music taking front stage, with songs like “Golden” from “KPop Demon Hunters” holding first place for eight consecutive weeks in late 2025.
With the rising popularity of K-Pop in the United States, Utah Tech University is seeing its own involvement in the hype with the creation of the K-Pop Dance Club in late 2023 by student Rebecca Wilde.
The club meets every Monday at the Human Performance Center, room 367 at 7 p.m. At every meeting, the members learn a dance to a variety of K-Pop songs.
During the meeting at the HPC, the group starts by stretching, taking time to introduce new members and talking.
“The number of people who attend varies from week to week, but there’s always a good mix of familiar and new faces,” said member Averey Mock, a junior criminal justice major from St. George.
After introductions, the group moves on to learning and practicing choreography. Members mentioned that the dances can be difficult to learn, but having a group takes some of the stress off.
“I have tried learning dances on my own, but it can be challenging without guidance,” Mock said. “I thought joining the club would give me a more structured and supportive environment to improve and connect with others who share the same interest.”
Outside of the sense of community, the club has also worked as an opportunity to be a creative outlet.
“It’s given me a creative outlet and a community of people who share similar interests,” Mock said. “Being part of the club has helped me improve my dance skills while also feeling more connected on campus.”
Being able to find the time and opportunities to be creative within a college student’s busy schedule can be difficult, and some members expressed appreciation for the club giving them that opportunity.
“Being a self-taught dancer can be challenging at times, especially when you have the passion to dance but not always the time or funds to attend a traditional dance class,” said member Moani Iokia, a sophomore general studies major from Honolulu. “The K-Pop Dance Club has given me an outlet to have fun with friends, build a sense of community and continue improving my dance skills.”
For many of the members, K-Pop is not a newfound interest, but an interest they haven’t always felt they could express.
“Honestly, it feels like a ‘finally’ moment for me, because growing up, none of my friends in school liked K-Pop and always seemed so disinterested when I would talk about it,” said Emma Cash Bayarkhuu, a senior psychology student from St. George. “It becoming mainstream just feels really right to me.”
Everybody is encouraged to come and join the K-Pop Dance Club, no matter their skill level.
“Regardless of experience level, learning the dances is a lot of fun and a great way to exercise and move your body,” Iokia said. “I highly encourage anyone who wants to build community while learning a new skill to join.”
