MICoCS Best Presenter Award, 13 June 2024

Congratulations to KITA Research Fellow Dr Nurul Akqmie Badrul Hisham whose presentation on “Hallyu Stars Mediated Fandom: Understanding Mediatization of Non-K-Pop Consumption Among Malaysian Youth” was selected as Best Presenter at the 2nd Mercu Buana International Conference on Communication Science (MICoCS) 2024. In the presentation, Dr. Akqmie explores the significant impact of the Korean Wave on cultural practices in Malaysia. It surpasses the boundaries of K-Pop and K-Drama to comprehensively examine the influence of Korean celebrities, social media platforms, and other cultural phenomena. To fully understand the complexities of these phenomena, qualitative research methods such as netnography and participant observation have been employed. These methods involve analyzing publicly accessible social media accounts, their content, and events related to South Korean culture. Furthermore, the study illuminates the consequences of mediatization within Malaysian youth culture.

Organized by the Faculty of Communication Science, Universitas Mercu Buana Jakarta, MICoCS2024 took place on June 12th and 13th, 2024, in Sahid Batam, Indonesia and had the theme “Fostering Communication for Sustainable Collaboration and Adaptability in the Rapid Digital Transformation for Global Society.” It offered communication scholars a platform to discuss the challenges of the digital era and explore effective strategies for navigating communication complexities.

This work contributes towards SDG(s) 4, 11 and 12 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.