Korean wave

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Korean wave
Korean
Hangul:	한류
Hanja:	韓流
Revised Romanization:	Hanryu
McCune-Reischauer:	Hanryu
Japanese
Kanji:	韓流
Hepburn:	Kanryū
Chinese
Simplified Chinese:	韩流
Traditional Chinese:	韓流
Pinyin:	Hánliú

The Korean wave refers to the popularity of South Korean popular culture in other countries and is otherwise known as "Hallyu", from the Korean pronunciation. The term was coined in China in 2001 by Beijing journalists startled by the growing popularity of South Koreans and South Korean goods in China.[1] The Korean wave began with the export of Korean TV dramas such as Jewel in the Palace and Winter Sonata across East and Southeast Asia; the growing success of Korean drama was shortly matched in the fields of movies and popular music.

The phenomenon does not extend to North Korean shows or movies, which do not currently enjoy the same popularity.

1 Explaining the phenomenon
2 Current situation
3 Criticism
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Explaining the phenomenon

The term "Korean Wave" is a Chinese pun that also translates directly into Korean. Both 寒流 ("cold current") and 韓流/韩流 (Korean Wave) are pronounced "han-liu" in Chinese ("hallyu" in Korean).

Initially, many Asian television companies broadcast Korean shows because the productions were impressive-looking but cheap to purchase. As their exposure increased, they resonated with audiences and their popularity grew; by 2000 the Wave was in full swing. Today, observers generally agree that the most likely explanations for the popularity of South Korean shows, singers, and movies throughout Asia is due both to South Korea's high income levels and to the closer cultural affinity they can share as Asian countries. [2]

South Korea is now the 10th largest economy in the world (reports have suggested that it is also the world's 9th largest film market), and its entertainment companies are able to finance shows and movies with production values much higher than in much of Asia. Korean pop singers' performances are slickly produced and often feature spectacular laser and fireworks shows.

More importantly, though, the shows and movies have themes that Asian audiences can relate to more easily than those of their western counterparts. Korean dramas typically deal with family issues, love, and filial piety in an age of changing technology and values. The shows typically reinforce traditional values of Confucianism. While Asian audiences have been both anxious about the potentially corrosive effect of western culture and have been experiencing many of the same issues as South Koreans, the melodrama and family messages of the dramas seem to speak to them.

The phenomenon is not limited to pop culture. Recent years have seen an increase in interest in the Korean language, Korean cuisine and Hanbok, the traditional Korean dress.

[edit] Current situation

The overwhelming success of South Korean dramas, movies, and music served as a major tourist magnet in 2005, mainly from the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia and China [3].

Korean male celebrities are now among the highest-paid actors outside Hollywood. According to the South Korean media, Winter Sonata star Bae Yong Joon is now charging $5 million a film, the highest in Asia [4]. At least nine other Korean male stars earn more than $10 million a year [5].

In the United States in February 2006, the singer Rain played two sold-out concerts at Madison Square Garden. [6]

The best selling international artist from Korea is BoA because of her popularity in the Jpop Market

In China in 2006, South Korean programs on government TV networks accounted for more than all other foreign programs combined [7].

[edit] Criticism

In 2005 there were signs of a nascent backlash against the Korean Wave, just as there have been protests against the importing of Western pop culture. Vietnam's government threatened to ban the broadcast of Korean shows if Vietnamese shows were not broadcast more on Vietnamese television stations. [8] Taiwan considered limits on the broadcast of foreign shows. China also considered boycotting or limiting the amount of Korean imports in the entertainment sector. [9] In Japan, a comic book with a title usually translated as "Hating the Korean Wave" sold enough copies that a sequel is being planned. Koreans accused the book of promoting hatred and containing historical inaccuracies. [10] [11] [12]