Korean Culture Research Articles

Analysis ofTeaching Methods in Korean Language Education

With the global spread of Korean culture, Korean language education has received unprecedented attention. However, there are still some teaching loopholes and methodological challenges in the teaching practice of the Korean language, and the innovation and optimisation of Korean language teaching methods are particularly important, which is not only related to the effciency of language knowledge transfer, but also to the cultivation of intercultural communication skills. In this paper, we will take the Korean language teaching methods as the re-search object, analyse the defciencies in university Korean language teaching, and meticulously analyse the teaching methods inside and out-side the classroom, with the aim of providing feasible suggestions for teaching practice.

In between Korean and New Zealander: Extrinsic success beliefs and well-being of Korean youth in New Zealand

Korean immigrants have migrated to New Zealand over the past three decades in search of a happier and more balanced life. While they anticipated that their children would be integrated into New Zealand society, they have primarily settled in Korean ethnic enclaves. In this context, younger Korean New Zealanders have been exposed to and influenced by New Zealand’s national and Korean ethnic cultures. This study examined success beliefs and well-being among Korean youth in New Zealand with a Third Culture Kid background (TCK K-NZ) in comparison to Korean youth in Korea (K-Korean) and European New Zealand youth (Pākehā). Results indicated that TCK K-NZ youth endorsed extrinsic success similarly to K-Korean youth, but that valuing extrinsic success predicted lowered well-being only for K-Korean youth. Conversely, valuing intrinsic success predicted higher well-being across the three groups. Results also revealed that TCK K-NZ youth's well-being levels were between those of K-Korean and Pākehā youth, potentially influenced by different structural relations between success beliefs and well-being, as well as their position as “third culture kids” in New Zealand. This study contributes to understanding cultures' roles in formulating success beliefs and the relationship between success beliefs and well-being for Korean New Zealander youth.

상호문화능력 향상을 위한 한국문화 교육 연구

Objectives The purpose of this paper is to propose a teaching approach that enables academic-oriented learners to understand and interpret Korean culture from an intercultural perspective, and present their findings as they ac-tively reflect on their own experiences and engage in discussions. Throughout this process, the researcher is ex-pected to validate learners’ improvement in their intercultural competence through team projects.
 Methods For this purpose, a survey was conducted on 23 students from University A in Incheon and 24 students from University B in Seoul taking the class “Presentation and Discussion”. The results of the survey were reflected when designing the class and directing students to work on their presentation projects.
 Results Initially, a survey was conducted to identify learners' experiences in learning Korean, their preferences re-garding collaborative learning, as well as their interest in Korean popular culture and specific elements of Korean culture they found interesting in particular. Subsequently, the content on Korean culture presented by the teams for their mid-term exam was analyzed to examine the learners' process in interculturally understanding Korean culture.
 Conclusions The research revealed that academic-oriented learners, through collaborative learning and compar-ing Korean culture with their own, gained an intercultural understanding on various aspects of Korean culture. Furthermore, by sharing their personal experiences in Korean culture with other learners, they were able to en-hance their intercultural competence.

메타버스 젭(ZEP) 기반의 외국인 유학생 대상 영어 학습 모형 개발

The purpose of this study is to develop an English learning model for international students in Korea by implementing Korean cultural content in the metaverse. Since the majority of international students in Korea are from Asian countries, it is important to offer specialized courses for them. The English learning model consists of four modules for one semester, which use Korean cultural content to cover Korean gaming culture, Korean pop music and dance, Korean society and cultural heritage, and Korean traditional instruments and costumes. In addition, the Metaverse ZEP encourages student participation and academic achievement through various activities such as games, discussions, and presentations. Popular Korean cultural content, which is most preferred by international students, is used in the learning model to improve their English language skills and to learn about Korean culture. The study will provide new insights for developing customized English courses for international students.

근대 시기 서양인 한국어 학습자 관점에서의 한국 문화에 관한 연구

This study analyzed the Korean cultural elements found in Korean language textbooks used by Western learners during the modern era. By examining their perceptions of Korean culture as portrayed in their writings, the study investigated the question: 'What aspects of Korean culture have foreign learners observed, and from what perspective have they viewed it?' Through examples, the study confirmed the conscious culture, behavioral culture, and conceptual culture perceived by foreign learners in Korean language textbooks. Additionally, analyzing works by Western learners of Korean according to the stages of intercultural sensitivity development, the study observed a progression from the 'denial' stage to the 'integration' stage. Based on these analyses, the study proposed the necessity of incorporating the demands and experiences of foreign learners into the selection of Korean cultural content in teaching and learning designs. Furthermore, the study suggested the need for cultural attitude education to approach other cultures through the process of intercultural awareness.

#MeToo movement in Korean arts & culture sector and gender mainstreaming strategies in cultural policy

ABSTRACT This study examines how the #MeToo movement in the Korean arts and culture world has changed the Korean government’s cultural and gender equality policies. First, I discuss the gendered power structure of the Korean arts and culture sector, focusing on the issues raised by this movement in terms of the specificity of the sector, which is a dominant discourse of cultural policy. Second, by exploring that newly organized activist groups through the movement played a significant role as gender governance, I examined how this gender governance overcame the limitations of government gender mainstreaming strategies and reconciled the specificity of the arts and culture sector with gender mainstreaming strategies under the conflicted political circumstances and government policy-making process. It resulted in the ‘mainstreaming of gender equality as an inalienable right of artists’ in the new Artist’ Status and Rights Guarantee Act, beyond the mere reliance on the existing gender mainstreaming tools.

Korean fathers’ immigration experience

ABSTRACT Korean immigrant fathers were interviewed and the consensual qualitative research (CQR) method was employed to analyze the data. Five domains (challenges, identity, values, relationship, and well-being) and seventeen categories emerged. Participants experienced implicit discrimination and cultural barriers. They identified themselves as Koreans and valued family’s well-being as their priority. They made efforts to find meaning and satisfaction by supporting children to become independent adults. Participants were aware of their traditional parenting styles and the intergenerational cultural gap with their children. As first-generation immigrants, Korean immigrant fathers reported a lack of genuine relationships with both Korean Americans and non-Korean Americans outside of their families. Although participants reported freedom from the pressure caused by interdependent Korean culture, they felt homesickness and emptiness without their own valued life goals.

Evaluating the effect of settlement services in South Korea: Focused on Korea Immigration & Integration Program

To improve immigrants’ integration, Korea Immigration & Integration Program (KIIP) has been delivered since 2009 in South Korea (hereafter Korea), yet little research has empirically estimated its net effect. Hence, the main aim of this study is to empirically and directly evaluate its net effect, using an Inverse-probability weighted analytical technique controlling selection bias that may distort its net effect. Utilizing the “Estimating social and economic effect of KIIP”, published by the Ministry of Justice, Korea in 2017, this study selects immigrants including participants (n = 800) and nonparticipants (n = 214). The findings indicate that the effect of KIIP is dubious. Specifically, KIIP plays a role in raising the level of naturalization of immigrants, accepting Korean culture, and satisfying their lives. However, there are statistically non-significant differences in employment, monthly income, keeping home country’s culture, social networks, Korean language skills, discrimination, and the sense of belonging to the Korean society between participants and nonparticipants. This shows both the effectiveness and ineffectiveness of KIIP. To find a way to improve integration, this study suggests strengthening advantages and offsetting disadvantages, in managing KIIP.

Fear of Missing Out: A Scale Development with Focus on Hallyu Phenomenon

Hallyu that is marked by the proliferation of entering South Korean culture into Indonesia has become a phenomenon for especially young Indonesian people. This culture includes Korean films and dramas, Korean music and songs, as well as the use of South Korean artists as brand ambassadors for local products. The influence of South Korean culture thoughtfully results in psychological changes of the generation Z in Indonesia especially those who are in the development from adolescence to adulthood. The purpose of this research is to develop a measurement scale on the aspects that are considered to have a significant influence on the psychological condition of fear of being outdated in young women of the generation Z in Indonesia. This research started by looking for the results of relevant studies. Upon the collection of the references, items that were tested for validity and reliability were formulated. The pre-test was conducted by involving 50 young women of the generation Z in Indonesia. After being declared valid and reliable, further tests was conducted to find indicators that have high loading factor values by involving 100 respondents. The study results in three constructs comprising interest on the Korean culture, social circle acceptance, and intention to consume Korean cultural products. Business people can use the questionnaire for increasing the sales figure.

The Success of the K-pop Industry in Utilizing Social Media to Promote Korean Culture

This paper explores the role of social media theories in driving the expansion of K-pop and its effective promotion of South Korean culture. The study delves into two key theories: the S.N.S. Citizenship Behavior theory and the Selectivity, Transactionality, and Conditionality Paradigm. These theories are dissected to elucidate their functionality and the benefits they bring to both users and social media platforms. To illustrate these concepts, the paper presents case studies featuring Aespas AI concept, (G) I-DLEs girl power concept, New Jeanss Phoning application, and a hypothetical scenario involving YouTube. The findings suggest that while targeted social media strategies contribute to a broader appreciation of Korean culture, social media platforms must invest further in enhancing their promotional systems and algorithms. In conclusion, this study asserts that the synergy between K-pop and social media will continue to flourish, with the potential for further growth as social media platforms refine their support mechanisms.

Editor’s introduction

ABSTRACT Through this special issue, we aim to provide the language to describe and give weight to the significance that the lifting of the Japanese cultural ban in 1998 had in understanding modern cultural exchange between Korea and Japan. We credit the lifting of the ban with the active cultural exchange that has happened between Korea and Japan, as well as the swift and indelible changes that were happening in South Korean culture in a short amount of time. We call this period and the effects of such the Japanese Cultural Influx, as a reflection of how Japanese culture has entered the Korean cultural landscape. We highlight the permanence of these changes, and we spotlight: 1. the dramatic shift in Japanese cultural consumption by the Korean public, 2. the active rather than passive role that the Korean public took to create legal and cultural shifts, and 3. how this period influenced the current approach to Japanese culture as well as the resurgence of nostalgic Japanese culture of the period.

Measuring the efficiency of the Republic of Korea’s cultural diplomacy in Vietnam under Moon Jae-in’s presidency (2017-2022) and its potentialities

As soon as the new president of the Republic of Korea was elected in 2017, Moon Jae-in anchored the New Southern Policy (NSP), which targeted southern Asian countries and expanded South Korea’s strategic presence in the Asia-Pacific Ocean. As such, the ROK continued to adopt a public diplomacy policy and empowered Korean culture in Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam. This article aims to generalize Moon Jae-in’s policy on cultural diplomacy and his application in Vietnam as a case study. I employed Joseph Nye’s soft power and cultural diplomacy concept while adopting a qualitative method to collect official information from the ROK’s homepages and assess diplomatic results. The central argument of this article is that Moon Jae-in considers cultural diplomacy a key element of the NSP for promoting Korean culture and bolstering a strategic presence in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. The ROK attempted to graft K-pop, movies, Korean customs, Korean languages, and Korean cuisine onto the Vietnamese concept and seek an upgrade of Vietnamese Korean cultural exchanges and the frequent organization of cultural events. Hence, an upgrade between the ROK and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV) to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in December 2022 marked an achievement of cultural diplomacy. I also argued that this attempt has a tonic effect on continuing the ROK cultural diplomacy under Yoon Suk Yeol’s presidency and on the foreseeable chance of both the SRV and the ROK in cultural diplomacy.

Exploring Fans' Perceptions of Female Power and Empowerment in Media Communication: A Case Study of Blackpink and Its Fandom

With the rapid development of K-pop culture globally, its popularity has influenced all aspects of culture and media communication. Social media, being dynamic and participatory, allows individuals to express their opinions. While previous studies highlight K-pop's impact in Western countries, the 'Ban on Korean Culture' policy in China presents a unique case worth exploring. This paper references Blackpink and its fandom to discuss the relationship between fandom perception and female empowerment in media communication. Using quantitative methods and thematic analysis, author will analyze comments and posts on Bilibili. Focusing on Blackpink's activities on Bilibili, the study evaluates three specific events involving the group through the lens of female power and empowerment. This paper will explore different representations of female power in their music videos and fan opinions. Additionally, the study considers how agency companies shape celebrity images. The examination includes debates around Lisa’s Crazy Horse event and Jennie's refusal to sing disrespectful lyrics, highlighting diverse perceptions of female empowerment. This study underscores the interplay between cultural communication and localized interpretations, providing insights into how female power and representation are negotiated in K-pop culture, especially on Chinese social media.

The Discourse of Korean Han : Background and Historical Landscape

Abstract: This essay outlines current trends in the discourse on han in what is regarded as a Korean state of mind brought on by the specific nature of Korean history and political evolution: the Korean War, income inequality, mass migrations into the city, oppressive, modernization-minded governments, protest movements, difficult living conditions, colonialism, imperialism, and specific incidents in history that exacerbated the grief and trauma of han among the people. The essay sets out to show how han has been defined by scholars, mostly Korean thinkers but also non-Koreans, and how it has been treated in the modern era. There is a summary of some of the major historical events and conditions that reinforce the presence of han in Korean culture, and the renewal of an interest in the subject after the advent of Globalization. Finally, the essay makes a case for the universal nature of han and how many have begun to see it as not just a Korean phenomenon after all.

Research on the Strategic Positioning of the Korean Mainstream Film and Television Market based on Netflix Platform

Researching the strategic position of the mainstream Korean film and television market based on Netflix will greatly impact the development direction of the mainstream Korean film and television market in the next decade. At the same time, it has also planned and broadened the possibilities and development potential of Asian film, television, and Netflix in the Asian market to a certain extent. This paper chose this topic because the cultural output of Korean movies and TV dramas has had a wide range of influence and appeal in recent years, and the quality of movies and TV dramas has improved dramatically. It has a rich storyline, excellent visual effects, music, costumes, and stylistic designs that reflect Korean culture’s unique ideas and values. It deeply reflects the unique ideas and values of Korean culture. The research methods used are questionnaires and comparative analysis. The results are analyzed from data analysis and commons characteristic. Discussion is discussed reasonably from the creative stage and propagation stage. The value of this paper can be reflected in helping Korean film and television enterprises formulate strategies. Studying the strategic position of the Korean film and television market can help Korean film and television enterprises fully understand and analyze market trends. It can also promote the development of the film and television industry. Studying the film and television market’s strategic position in Korea can promote film development.

Cultural and National Elements in the Works of Contemporary South Korean Artists

The subject of this study is current projects (installations, paintings, sculptures, performances) by contemporary South Korean artists that contain symbols, elements or cultural artifacts related to the local identity of the country. The article attempts to identify the main themes, motifs and techniques that are used in Korean contemporary art to emphasize the issues of the nation's self-identification within the global themes and problems of the modern world. To achieve this goal, the main South Korean artists recognized by the world art community (Kimsuja, So Do Ho, Lee Soo Kyung, Kwang Yong Chan, Pak Chang Kyung, Ham Kyuna, Yoon Seongnam) are singled out, whose work is directly related to the traditional cultural elements of their country. Their projects, themes and techniques are explored from the point of view of the interaction of global and local processes in modern society. The relevance of the work lies in an attempt to identify the unique processes taking place in contemporary South Korean art. Point studies of Asian artistic culture often include either the study of the creative path of individual artists, or the consideration of the main trends and trends. In this paper, an attempt is made to look at South Korean art from the point of view of topics and technologies that are inherent only in local Korean culture, and to identify points of contact with global issues and problems. This is the scientific novelty of the study. A number of contemporary South Korean artists create works of art based on their life experiences, directly related to the traditions of their country. Themes related to the search and reflection of cultural identity and self-identification arise in their works. The work uses both general scientific research methods: analytical and comparative, and a special method of art history: structural-functional.

PERAN KONTROL ORANG TUA DAN KONFORMITAS TEMAN SEBAYA TERHADAP PERILAKU MENIRU PADA REMAJA PENGGEMAR DRAMA KOREA

Korean drama viewers in Indonesia have experienced a significant increase during the pandemic. The high interest in watching Korean dramas has an impact on the entry of Korean culture which is then imitated by teenagers. The imitating behavior of teenagers is certainly inseparable from parental control. This study aims to determine empirically the role of parental control and conformity with peers on imitating adolescent behavior from Korean drama shows. This study uses quantitative methods. The population used is teenagers in the city of Solo Raya. The participants of this study were 198 teenagers who are fans of Korean dramas, which were obtained by incidental sampling technique. The measuring tool used is a questionnaire using a Google form that is distributed through social media. The data were analyzed using multiple linear regression analysis techniques. The results showed that parental control and peer conformity together played a role in imitating behavior. The effective contribution of parental control and peer conformity is 7.4%. With parental control of 2.2% and conformity of 5.2%. The results of the hypothesis test state that only conformity plays a role in imitating behavior. The implication of this research is that teenagers who like Korean dramas prefer things that can be imitated according to social and cultural norms in society.

협동학습을 활용한 한국어 교재의 문화 텍스트 교육 방안

The purpose of this study is to devise teaching and learning methods that can be applied to Korean culture classes from the methodological perspective of cultural education using learner-centered cooperative learning. To this end, the concept and principles of cooperative learning were first examined, and the research and discussion of Korean language education applying cooperative learning were examined to understand the necessity of Korean language culture classes based on cooperative learning. Among the various models of cooperative learning, based on the principles of Co-op Co-op model, instructional procedures, and expected effects, the Korean language and culture classes were designed. It is expected that the cultural knowledge and experiences learned and acquired by Korean learners will be internalized and academic achievements as well as mutual cultural communication skills will be cultivated through Korean language culture classes applying the Co-op Co-op model. In the future, we will continue research on the impact of cooperative learning on learners' academic achievement, self-efficacy, and learning attitudes through Korean language culture experimental classes using models of Co-op Co-op.

넷플릭스 드라마 <킹덤>의 텍스트 분석을 통한 문화이해 방안 연구

This study examines the narrative structure of the Netflix K-drama “Kingdom,” focusing on the progression of events and analysing the patterns of dialogue in situations of fear. The research aims to explore how the textual elements of visual media, beyond linguistic information, can effectively serve as resources for understanding Korean culture. The study moves from a macroscopic to a microscopic analysis, focusing on the discourse in the drama, conversations within these discourses, sentences within the conversations, and specific vocabulary within the sentences to grasp the situational meaning of each event. From a narrative perspective, it examines sociocultural symbols and, from a linguistic perspective, character identities through dialogue analysis and specific vocabulary. Furthermore, sociocultural symbols are linked to social background and spatial perception, while the linguistic aspect focuses on the speaker’s utterances. “Kingdom” showcases distinct patterns of language use across different social classes. In the common social context of ‘fear,’ the context and situational meaning of events experienced by each class can be understood through the utterances and discourse analysis of characters from different social standings. This research, while analysing the narrative structure and dialogue of “Kingdom,” primarily focuses on the thematic aspect of ‘social discourse.’ Set in the Joseon period, “Kingdom” has a clear conflict structure: a power-hungry noble’s greed for the throne, monstrous zombies, and a prince’s struggle to protect the royal authority and save the people. Unlike Western zombie narratives that often portray zombies in a destructive light, “Kingdom” incorporates distinct Korean messages. The conflicts among characters in “Kingdom” are common themes in Korean drama storytelling. However, the narrative construction of overcoming crises in “Kingdom” can highlight the strengths of traditional Korean narratives. This research analyses the situations and intentions of characters in specific crises through “Kingdom,” a K-content text, suggesting that such cultural understanding and text analysis could enable Korean language learners to become interpreters of K-culture. Additionally, by providing richer information about the Korean language and culture, it is expected to contribute to the academic advancement in literacy related to text comprehension.

Collaboration of Starbucks and Blackpink to Increase Purchase Intention

The development of the times and the impact of globalization have made it easier for foreign cultures to enter Indonesia; one example is Korean culture. Korean Wave or Hallyu is a term often used to describe the phenomenon of Korean popular culture. Therefore, this research aims to determine the relationship between Starbucks and Blackpink Collaboration on interest in purchasing Blackpink special edition tumblers. The theory used in this research is the S-O-R theory. The method used is quantitative; this research uses a sampling technique using the Non-Probability Sampling method with a total sample of 97 respondents who are fans or knowing Blackpink and Starbucks in Indonesia. The research results show that the Blackpink special edition tumbler product collaboration variable (X) and the purchase intention variable (Y) have a strong relationship. The correlation coefficient value shows a positive number, which means there is a unidirectional relationship between the two variables.