[Essay] The Globalization of the Korean Wave: Understanding and Misunderstanding
The unprecedented success of Hallyu naturally raises curiosity about its causes. As a result of the growing popularity of Korean pop culture, there have been a number of misconceptions about the hallyu phenomenon that are rooted in pre-existing ideological biases. In the following sections..
[Column] The Current and Future Landscape of Online Influencers
From an influencer's perspective, social media serves as a platform to reveal their authentic selves. Visitors to their channels may initially discover the influencer's expertise in beauty techniques, food recipes, and humor. But for influencers, social media is more than a showcase of ...
[Essay] Tanaka-san's Popularity and the Hallyu Universe
My attention was drawn to Tanaka when I saw him sing on Mnet's music program 'M Countdown' in late 2022 after he released his rock ballad 'Wasurenai (忘れない, Don't forget me)'. The female audience, captured by the broadcast cameras, shouted and cheered for Tanaka..
[Essay] The Complex Relationship between the Creative Industry and Sarcasm: the “Fifty Fifty" Scandal
The "Fifty-Fifty Incident" stands out as one of the most talked-about issues in the Korean entertainment industry this year. However, rather than capturing widespread public attention, it has generated more discussion among industry insiders.
[Essay] The 'Chinese New Year' Debate and Its Cultural Implications
Nevertheless, China is our neighbor. Although it may be a somewhat exaggerated expression, diplomatic rhetoric such as "an alliance as close as teeth and lips" (脣亡齒寒) is often used to describe our close relationship. South Korea and China have a long history of close ties.
[Kpop] Eve, Psyche and Bluebeard's Wife, by Le Sserafim : The best K-pop song of the first half of 2023
Essentially, the success of the performance is credited to Huh Yoon-jin, without whom the show might not have achieved its impact. A particularly notable part of the choreography is during the background chorus of "mess, mess, mess~", where Huh almost stumbles, creating a sense of ...
[Column] What is "K" ?
K is being used as a symbol that compresses many meanings, phenomena, and discourses. Within K, the logic of cultural flow and the logic of product production clash; dimensions of transcultural acceptance and nationalistic messages coexist;
[Event] Issues and Research Topics in the Field of K-Dramas
The Global Era of K-Dramas Amplified by the Impact of NetflixWhat have K-drama researchers ignored and shouldn't?Suggestions for Basic Research to Structure K-Drama Discussions Reporter | Sangmi Park & Vanessa Date | October, 2023 Yong-jin Won, Professor Emeritus of Sogang University The discussions surrounding the immensely popular Korean commodity, "K-drama,
[Event] K-drama and Korean studies, similarities and differences
Professor Won said, "Coincidentally, thanks to the Korean Wave (Hallyu), there is a heightened interest in Korea's modernity, the encounter between Korea's modernity and tradition, and especially in everyday life through Hallyu-related research.
[Essay] Whitewashing vs. Yellowashing? The Cultural Sensitivity of Transnational K-Pop Fandom
This controversy within the K-pop idol fandom goes beyond a mere fan conflict. It reveals the problems of racial and ethnic sensitivity within transnational fandoms in a globalized environment.
[Column] The New Possibilities of Korean Wave Tourism
Korean society has been showing interest in forming communities with foreigners residing in Korea for several years. The stories of foreign brides married to Korean farmers have been widespread in the media, and many Korean individuals born through international marriages...