One of the newest clubs on campus started off with a bang. The Korean Pop Club (K-Pop) is an organization that started last semester with the hope to bring students together where they are able to socialize and learn more about the Korean culture.
After getting an email from CSUN encouraging students to start a club, fourth year senior, creative writing major and co-president Katrina Mercado couldn’t turn the opportunity down.
Mercado enlisted with the help from Environmental Health major and president of the club Renelle Baluyot. Both had an interest in the Korean culture and wanted to share it with the CSUN community.
K-Pop focuses on Korean culture and music through the “Korean Wave”. It brings awareness to Korean music, TV dramas, language, technology, films and cuisine.
“K-Pop Club is all about making friends who are interested in Korean pop music and Korean culture,” Baluyot said. “We don’t have many friends who listen to K-Pop and wanted to find more people.”
Mercado and Baluyot had the idea of the club set in motion, but they also had to see if anyone would be willing to partake in the club. They also had to find a means of funding. Without these two things, Mercado and Baluyot were not sure how the club would turn out.
“Getting the club started was the biggest challenge,” Mercado said. “We were so unsure of what the response would be and feared that other students would not be interested in K-Pop.”
Baluyot says that she was worried people wouldn’t join the club because of the preconceived notions people may have about K-Pop music. Some students who like Korean music believe that people might judge their taste in music as being bad.
“We are forced to bottle in our emotions and feelings about our favorite artists. With the club we can let go and express anything we want to because we can understand what others are going through,” said Baluyot.
Business major and fifth year senior Manny Reyes says it is fulfilling to be a part of K-Pop club.
“For the CSUN community, I would like them to know that they don’t have to be secretive about anything they enjoy,” said Reyes. “Be open about the things you enjoy and you might just meet people who fuel those interests.”
Mercado’s fears were washed away when students from different cultures took an interest in the club.
“ Interestingly enough, we don’t get many Korean students. Instead, we have a multitude of cultures all brought together by this single interest,” said Mercado.
Fortunately for the club presidents, K-Pop was just getting its feet off the ground. More students wanted to learn about the Korean culture than they originally thought. Students began to attend club meetings and even helped raise money for future events.
“By paying their dues, donating albums and posters for raffles, and collecting bottles and recyclables, we have been able to hold and will be able to hold social events,” Mercado said.
One event that the club looks forward to partake in is The Running Man, a Korean game where teams are challenged through a variety of tasks involving games such as Draw Down the Lane, Stand Up, Catch the Thief and United Badminton.
K- Pop club also plans to host a Korean Drama night where students can socialize and discover new shows to watch.
Mathematics major Ian Flores appreciates the K-Pop atmosphere and takes pride in being a part of the club.
“K- Pop is becoming global and our club is a bridge to K-Pop,” said Flores. “We love the Korean culture and want people to learn about it.”
K-Pop is scheduled to meet on Wednesday Nov. 12 in the USU La Cresenta Room from 5 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
