Jieun Kiaer, a professor of Korean language and linguistics at the University of Oxford / Courtesy of Jieun Kiaer

For most English learners, reciting the alphabet through the ABC song is often the first step they take to kickstart their language learning journey.

Then, what if we have the Korean equivalent of the song to help those studying Korean? This question prompted Jieun Kiaer, a professor of Korean language and linguistics at the University of Oxford, and the award-winning composer Kim Hyung-suk to produce the "Ganada Song," which was released on major streaming platforms including Spotify, July 4. Like ABC, "ganada" are the first three letters of Hangeul, or the Korean alphabet.

"Our goal was to marry K-pop with education for the fans of Korean culture, building a lasting legacy," Kiaer said in a recent Zoom interview with The Korea Times. "A lot of people in my age used to learn English through pop songs, so I thought leveraging K-pop to teach the Korean language will be just as effective. Kim, who shares the same sentiment, added a feel of the English rock band, the Beatles, to the song and made it sound more addictive."

Kiaer penned its lyrics, marking her debut as a lyricist. Through its lyrics featuring both Korean and English, the "Ganada Song" not only presents the Korean alphabet in order, but also imparts a message of diversity and solidarity. Some of its lines read: "Singing brings peace and love" and "Let's hold hands together."

"For the Korean part that introduces our alphabet, I attempted to make it sound fun and witty," Kiaer explained. "But for its English section, I wanted to illuminate K-pop's role in promoting diversity and solidarity, hoping it can play a bigger part in bringing different people together, thereby fulfilling more social responsibilities."

Composer Kim Hyung-suk, left, and professor Jieun Kiaer speak during a special lecture on K-pop at Oxford's Sheldonian Theatre, July 4. Courtesy of Jieun Kiaer

Moreover, Kim, the composer behind mega-hits such as "The Road to Me" (2001) by singer Sung Si-kyung and "Expectation" (2005) by Na Yoon-kwon, recently allowed Oxford's research team to use his 1,400 songs for educational purposes. Kim made the surprising announcement during his special lecture on K-pop held at Oxford's Sheldonian Theatre on July 4. This is the first time that an Asian pop musician has taken the stage at the Sheldonian Theatre, which often hosts entrance and graduation ceremonies for Oxford students.

"In the past, we had to consider intellectual property issues when attempting to teach Korean utilizing K-pop songs," Kiaer said. "But now, we can use Kim's creations for education and broaden our reach."

Actor-writer Cha In-pyo gives a lecture on his 2021 novel "Once We Look at the Same Star" at the University of Oxford as part of the school's first Korean literature festival, June 28. Courtesy of Korean Cultural Centre UK

K-culture's ascent at Oxford

At Oxford — a bastion of British tradition — Korean culture is reaching new heights, a phenomenon largely attributed to the devoted work of Kiaer.

Shortly before Kim's visit, Kiaer invited actor-writer Cha In-pyo as a lecturer for its inaugural Korean literature festival on June 28. The invitation was made after his 2021 full-length novel, "Once We Look at the Same Star," was picked as required reading for those studying Korean at the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at Oxford.

The novel, which was initially published in 2009 under the title "Goodbye Hill," revolves around "comfort women" — sex slave victims coerced to serve Japanese soldiers during the 1910-45 Japanese occupation of Korea.

"Instead of taking a political or historical approach, Cha unfolded a beautiful story about comfort women, the unrecognized and marginalized population," the professor noted. "This work is of great literary value, and it reminds our students of Korea's forgotten history."

According to Kiaer, what sets it apart from other stories is its emphasis on solidarity and togetherness rather than resentment and vengeance.

"It gives lessons to people today, suggesting how we can join hands to build a brighter future together," she said. "I believe Cha's novel can strike a chord with British readers as well, especially with those who unwillingly experienced traumatic events."

The participants of Oxford University's UK Hallyu Academy / Courtesy of University of Oxford

Another notable accomplishment of Kiaer this year is the launch of the UK Hallyu Academy in February — a 10-week program for students and the general public across the U.K. that aims to take a deep dive into various aspects of Korean culture ranging from K-food to K-clothing. About 80 people applied for the program, according to Kiaer.

"People of diverse backgrounds applied to join us, including the general British public," she revealed, adding that this demonstrates how Korean culture has evolved into a topic of public interest in the U.K.

"One of them was a refugee student who found a sense of belonging through K-pop. There was also a British music teacher who told me she has explored self-discovery thanks to K-pop."

Simply put, Kiaer's self-given mission is to contribute to making Korea a cultural powerhouse as independence activist Kim Gu (1876-1949) wished.

"I want to realize Kim's dream in the U.K.," Kiaer said. "I believe it is crucial to create a lasting legacy of our culture so that we can further disseminate it and become a true cultural powerhouse."