The 5th BTS Global Interdisciplinary Conference, an international academic conference that academically examines the so-called "BTS phenomenon," widely regarded as a core driver of the global spread of Hallyu, will be held on July 2 and 3 at the JBNU International Convention Center.

Hosted by the International BTS Society (ISBS) and co-organized by JBNU Namwon Glocal Campus Management Office, the Glocal University Development Project Group, the Department of K-Entertainment, and Big Movement, the conference will be held under the theme "Next Generation Hallyu & BTS."

The conference continues a global academic network that began in the United Kingdom in 2020 and has since taken place in the United States, Korea, and Malaysia. It is also an occasion to showcase the scholarly capabilities in this field of the newly established Department of K-Entertainment at JBNU's Namwon Glocal Campus. The fact that the event is held in Jeonju, where traditional cultural assets such as hanok, hanji, and Korean cuisine are concentrated, adds symbolic significance to the conference.

The conference will present research findings that cross-analyze various areas—fandom, digital technology, global communication, and political and social practice—centering on the social and cultural meanings of BTS’s "New Chapter" following members' military service discharge. Fifty researchers from ten countries, including Korea, the United States, Canada, Australia, and the Czech Republic, will present their work.

Opening with a keynote lecture by JBNU Professor Jihaeng Lee (Department of K-Entertainment), the conference will focus on how Hallyu has moved beyond a unidirectional spread from its country of origin to evolve autonomously by combining with local cultural contexts worldwide—a process often described as glocalization.

In the "Session 1: Scaling Locality & Glocalization Re-examined" session, topics will include the reciprocal exchanges among popular music in Korea, Mongolia, and Vietnam, and a reappraisal of Latin America not merely as a consumption market but as an emerging focal point in K-pop production. For example, using HYBE’s global idol group "Santos Bravos" as a case study, presenters will analyze how Latinx identities, aesthetics, and performance traditions are being integrated into K-pop idol production structures.

The conference's presentations further expand the academic scope by conducting precise multidisciplinary analyses of BTS and fandom phenomena. For example, one study will examine the effects of AI—particularly generative AI on digital platforms such as TikTok—on fandom practices. The research will also address how digital devices materialized by AI technologies affect gender identity.

Additional studies will examine emotional intimacy and modes of communication through BTS content, issues of information and accessibility arising from Netflix subtitle translation, and the cultural politics of fan translation—addressing cultural translation and communication within a global context. Discussions will also cover fandoms' social practices and global expansion, such as climate action, as well as changes in K-pop narratives and the philosophical and religious practices within fandom.

In addition to regular academic presentations, numerous special programs that combine mass appeal and field relevance have been prepared. First, attendees will have the opportunity to hear directly from director Bao Nguyen about his documentary work illuminating the production process of BTS’s comeback album, in an interview concerning the Netflix documentary <BTS: The Return> (2026).

Also, following a screening of the documentary <Forever We Are Young>, which focuses on ARMY, a conversation with director Grace Lee is scheduled, providing an opportunity to examine the cultural significance of the global fandom from multiple perspectives.

Furthermore, in a special session, the climate action platform Kpop4Planet—a voluntary organization of K-pop fans across the globe—will present concrete campaign outcomes showing how fans have pressured major corporations to adopt eco-friendly management practices and transition to renewable energy, thereby driving tangible industry change.

After the conference, a cultural program called the "ARMY Tour" will be offered, including a tour of the Wanju BTS course and a hanji fan-making workshop.

Professor Jihaeng Lee (Department of K-Entertainment, JBNU) said, "This conference examines BTS and Hallyu not merely as cultural content but as a complex global phenomenon where technology, society, ethics, and politics intersect," adding, "It will serve as an important turning point for exploring the direction and sustainability of next-generation Hallyu."