KCCLA brings free K-pop academy to San Francisco in September

The Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles will stage a three-day K-pop Academy in San Francisco from Sept. 18-20, 2026, with classes at UC Berkeley and a final showcase at the Ferry Building. The free program pairs fans with professional choreographers and ends with a public performance during the Chuseok Korean Cultural Festival.

Why it matters: - The free academy gives Bay Area K-pop fans direct access to working industry choreographers. - The program combines training and performance, which KCCLA says helps participants experience K-pop as a participatory culture, not just a music genre. - The final showcase ties the academy to the Chuseok Korean Cultural Festival, widening the public audience for the event.

What happened: - The Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles will host the 2026 K-POP Academy in San Francisco from Sept. 18-20. - The program will take place at UC Berkeley, with the final showcase held at the San Francisco Ferry Building. - The Academy is presented with local support from the America K-POP Association and the Center for Korean Studies at UC Berkeley. - Participation is free with advance registration. - Additional program and registration information is available on KCCLA's website and its Instagram account.

The details: - The Academy offers two class tracks: beginner one-day classes and an advanced class. - Beginner classes run from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 18 and 19. - Advanced classes run from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 18 and 19. - Advanced participants will perform in the final showcase on Sept. 20. - TED, whose given name is Jaehee Choi, and EZY, whose given name is Jihun Lee, will lead the program. - TED appeared as the leader of dance crew EO-DDAE on Mnet's Street Man Fighter. - TED also served as a performance director for Whee In's world tour and fan concert. - TED's choreography credits include IVE's "I AM," HyunA's "Attitude," and Kep1er's MAMA Awards performance. - TED has also performed as a main dancer for ROSÉ, NewJeans, HWASA, PSY, HyunA and Uhm Jung Hwa. - EZY has performed in LE SSERAFIM's "Smart" and "Crazy," JEON SOMI's "Fast Forward," NewJeans' "Super Shy," JISOO's "EARTHQUAKE," and CHUNG HA's "I'm Ready" and "Algorithm." - EZY has also taught at Hanlim Arts High School and 1MILLION Dance Studio. - Instruction will focus on choreography, musicality, movement quality, performance energy and individual expression. - KCCLA says the instructors will also explain how K-pop performances are built for the stage. - The September 20 showcase will run alongside the Chuseok Korean Cultural Festival at the Ferry Building from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Advanced Class participants are scheduled to perform at 3 p.m.

Between the lines: - KCCLA is using a hands-on dance format to build cultural engagement around K-pop, which has become a gateway for broader Korean cultural programming. - Pairing UC Berkeley with the Ferry Building gives the academy both an academic anchor and a highly visible public finale. - The emphasis on stagecraft suggests the program is aimed at participants who want more than fandom and are interested in performance skills.

What's next: - Registration is open ahead of the Sept. 18 start date. - KCCLA is directing inquiries to Lian Kwon at liak99@kccla.org. - The academy's final public showcase will take place on Sept. 20 during the festival.

The bottom line: - KCCLA is bringing a free, three-day K-pop training program to San Francisco that blends instruction, performance and public cultural outreach.