Hallyu as Soft Power : The Success Story of the Korean Wave and its Use in South Korea’s Foreign Policy

Abstract

The Korean Wave is taking over the world, achieving great success in areas such as music and cinematography, and making Korean culture increasingly attractive. Culture being a crucial resource of soft power, which in turn serves as a powerful tool in international relations, the South Korean government is trying to take advantage of its improved national image and international influence. This analysis provides an overview of the relationship between the Korean government and the Korean Wave, how the perception of Korea has changed thanks to its cultural outflow, and how the government tries to use this to its advantage.