Can’t get enough of K-pop beats, binge-worthy K-dramas, or the ever-evolving world of Korean business and lifestyle? Wonder how South Korea rose to global cultural stardom? In this minor, you’ll dive deep into Korean entertainment culture—analyzing, creating, and pitching cross-cultural media concepts. Where passion for pop culture meets real-world creative careers.
This minor turns your passion for Korean entertainment into practical skills—from media analysis to concept development—while connecting you with global peers and industry trends in the fast-growing world of pop culture.

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 this minor?
Exclusive Focus on South Korea

This is the only minor within Fontys (and on Kies op Maat) with a dedicated focus on South Korea, covering specifically its entertainment industry (K-pop and K-drama), businesses, culture, and international influence in a deeply integrated way.

 International & Multidisciplinary Collaboration

You will work closely with peers from top South Korean universities across disciplines such as marketing, culture studies, business, and biotech. The collaboration is both on-site and online, providing an immersive intercultural learning experience.

Real-World, Company-Driven Projects

The core of the program is a 10 ECTS research project developed with world-leading companies. These industry partnerships provide you with authentic business cases and meaningful, hands-on experience.

Blended Learning with International Travel

You will engage in a short exchange to South Korea, participating in masterclasses, project work, and industry visits. Korean students also travel to the Netherlands, making the collaboration truly bilateral. Travel is made accessible with affordable accommodations and institutional support.

*The study trip will partly be covered by Fontys.

Talent-Based Education

The minor is rooted in Talent-Based education principles:

• Projects are tailored to student interests and strengths
• You will receive personal coaching through intervision sessions
• You will take ownership of your learning process
• You will focus is on real-world challenges

Learning Outcomes

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.

Entry Requirements

Research Skills

The target group for this minor consists of students 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)

All literature will be provided in class.

Schedule

This minor will run from February 2026 until July 2026.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.

Assessment

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.

Minor Regulations

You will soon be able to download the Minor Regulations here. The purpose of the Minor Regulations is to inform you, as a student, about what you will learn in the minor, how the assessment will be structured, and when you will have successfully completed the minor. Students can derive rights from the Minor Regulations.

• Location: Fontys University of Applied Sciences in Eindhoven
• Address: R3/R4 Rachelsmolen 1, 5612 Ma Eindhoven

For additional information, please reach out to the Academic Lead of the minor Ms. R. Güngör

E-mail: r.gungor@fontys.nl