Korean Pop Culture Research Articles

The Dissemination and Expression of Female Thought in Korean Pop Culture

The transmission and expression of women’s ideas in Korean popular culture is a global phenomenon that has attracted a wide audience, including teenagers. The different channels through which these ideas are disseminated, such as music, music videos, and social media platforms, aim to understand the influence of the Korean Wave in shaping gender equality and female empowerment. Using a mixed methodology, including content analysis and comments collections, the study revealed the significant impact of Korean pop culture on young people’s self-identity and values. Examples include the different influences and inspirations that different teenagers receive as a result of this culture and the reaction after watching the music video of a K-pop girls’ group. The study concludes that the representation of women’s ideas in Korean popular culture not only challenges traditional notions of gender but also promotes a more egalitarian perspective of thought, helping teenagers to set up the correct social feminine values, and contributing to the continuous development of women’s autonomy and identity.

Does the attractiveness of K‐culture shape the enjoyment of foreign language learners of Korean?

AbstractAttraction to the target culture can be a reason to study the language, especially in the case of languages other than English (LOTEs). Recently, the number of Korean language learners has surged alongside the growing popularity of Korean pop culture (K‐pop). However, it is unknown whether the initial attraction to the culture and the first steps in that direction shape foreign language (FL) emotions in the longer term. To fill this gap, this mixed‐methods study examined to what extent the attractiveness of the Korean Culture (K‐culture) predicts foreign language enjoyment (FLE) after controlling for other established learner variables (i.e., the length of FL study, FL proficiency, frequency of FL use outside of class, and attitudes toward the teacher and FL) through sequential regression analysis. The quantitative findings are complemented by the open‐ended responses to the sources of FLE using the American Council on Teaching of Foreign Languages 3Ps framework (products, practices, and perspectives) through NVivo. A total of 782 university students studying Korean as FL completed an online survey on the attractiveness of K‐culture and FLE. The results showed that the attitude toward the teacher and attractiveness of K‐culture are the strongest predictors of FLE.

Dramaturgical Analysis of Role-players on Telegram

K-Pop (Korean Pop) culture is very popular among Indonesian people, especially children and teenagers. One of the impacts of the popularity of K-Pop is the emergence of role-play accounts. Role-play is a make-believe game that requires players to imitate a K-pop idol. Someone who plays role-play will be called a role-player. We aimed to analyze the differences between how a role-player act in the role-play world and the real world. This research focuses on Telegram role-players. We applied a qualitative netnographic research design and used a dramaturgical theory as a research approach. The results of this study showed that the role-players used Telegram as their front stages where they managed the impressions according to the role-play personas they chose. In addition, the results of this research showed that the direct message features of the role-players’ Telegram accounts are used as their middle stages while the backstage is their real life. The results suggest that each role-player has a different character from their role-play persona, showing the distinctive differences among the front stage, the middle stage and the backstage.

The Cultural Construction of NewJeans from the Perspective of Cross-cultural Communication

The communication analysis of Korean pop culture has been the topic of academic research. NewJeans, a K-pop girl group, is a popular global pop music group of the new generation, which has the characteristics of a typical example of cross-cultural communication and strong cultural attraction. This paper attempts to explore the great innovation of the K-pop industry by analyzing its cultural construction, and conducts an empirical study on the text analysis of NewJeans music works. The study found that by establishing a common connection with the market based on the cultural narratives of East Asia and the Western market, and fully utilizing its artistic pursuit as a literary and artistic work, it can express its cultural core of companionship aimed at the young market group, combine the retro elements of the millennium with contemporary popular culture, endow Western mythological stories with contemporary metaphors and modernized expressions, and thus achieve a balance between artistic and market value. Through the analysis of the cultural construction of NewJeans, it can be seen that under the macro-guidance of global market demand, only by respecting the market characteristics of different regions, tapping the internal needs of consumers and guiding the situation in different cross-cultural perspectives can the success probability of cross-cultural communication be increased.

Foreign but familiar: Hallyu spaces and K-culture in urban Hanoi, a walking and participant observation study

ABSTRACT For over two decades, South Korean pop culture has occupied the Vietnamese' cultural lives as it has conquered numerous other markets, giving rise to the global cultural phenomenon of the Korean Wave, or Hallyu. While Hallyu has spread across Vietnam, businesses serving made-in-Korea or (mimicking) “Korean-style” products and services have also developed in many of its cities, including the capital, Hanoi. Tracing the “Hallyu spaces” which such businesses constitute, this article explores the extent and patterns of those spaces and how they fit into the day-to-day flows of Hanoi and its residents' consumerist lives. It focuses on two main areas of discussion: the kinds of Korean (or Korean-inspired) products and services on offer and the locations in which these are found. Using a combination of methods, including walking, participant observation, photo-taking, mapping, casual interviews, and digital ethnography, the study contributes to the scholarship on the urban spaces and consumption practices in Hanoi and the cultural exchange between Vietnam and South Korea. It reveals how Hallyu spaces add to Hanoi's experience economy as well as the conspicuous and seeping effects of Hallyu in urban Hanoi and Vietnam. Theoretically, the study advances the conceptualisation of “K-culture” and “global Koreanness” in Hallyu studies.

The Implications of Queer Representation in Contemporary South Korean TV Narratives

Existing scholarly works on the topic of queer representation in South Korean media focus primarily on Korean cinema and K-pop, but there are far fewer studies on queer or queer-coded portrayals in Korean TV media. Queer characters and relationships are gradually becoming more visible in mainstream South Korean TV with some examples being Semantic Error which centers on the romantic relationship between two men and Nevertheless which depicts the feelings of friendship between two women turn clearly romantic. Considering the significant rise in popularity of Korean TV dramas not only in Asia but also in western society, where audiences are more conscious of queer narratives, the realm of queer representation in Korean TV definitely warrants more scholarly attention. I aim to contribute to the conversation about depictions of queerness in Korean media by analyzing the representation of queer characters in 2021 TV drama Work Later, Drink Now, specifically the queer subtext of Jigoo and Jiyeon’s relationship, and how this story reveals South Korean perceptions of queer experiences by matching and/or distinguishing itself from the tragic narratives that queer characters are often depicted in Korean TV dramas. I will also analyze the reception of this show by South Korean society in relation to queer identity based on its references in Korean pop culture and online fan discussions. I argue that the writer of Work Later, Drink Now intended to provide commentary not only on the situation of women in contemporary South Korean society, but she also pushed an underlying queer narrative, aiming to shed light on the reality of being, specifically, a queer woman in South Korea.

Affordances, challenges, and possibilities of Hallyu in the classroom: Korean language instructors’ perspectives

ABSTRACT The intense popularity of Korean pop culture, known as Hallyu, which has increased interest in Korean language learning, is just one example of a pop-culture-driven globalising language. In the wake of such globalisation, language instructors must be responsive to the evolving needs of their learners, but few studies address how language instructors respond to such changes. Through a qualitative, thematic analysis of in-depth interviews with six language instructors of Korean, this study investigates how the globalisation of Korean media and cultural products has impacted these language instructors’ teaching contexts as well as their responses to these changes. While Hallyu can serve as a motivational tool in the classroom, instructor perspectives underscore challenges in incorporating such content. Specifically, concerns about cultural and linguistic authenticity and tensions between heritage and non-heritage learners in relation to Hallyu’s impact on the language classroom emerged from the data. We draw on these findings to put forth actionable recommendations and strategies that address prevalent pedagogical issues of fostering engaging, effective, and inclusive language instruction.

Heuristic political behavior in the 2024 presidential general election: Fandom humanies case study

The K-Popers phenomenon in the elections in Indonesia in 2024 is the first record in the history of election contestation because it contains a combination of South Korean Pop culture and Indonesian Politics. K-Pop fans have the characteristics of a strong social group so that when they enter politics they join the Humanies fandom and form a social group that supports Anies Baswedan as a candidate for President of Indonesia in 2024-2029. This research aims to describe the representation of heuristic political behavior from the Humanies fandom in the 2024 elections. This research uses qualitative research methods with a literature study approach. So the data source in this research comes from secondary data. The research results show that the representation of heuristic political behavior from the Humanies fandom is in the form of creating a social media account K-Pop terms in updates on Anies' activities, right up to making fan merch (photocards, light sticks, glasses, etc.). The political behavior carried out by individuals in the Humanies fandom is based on the styles of K-Popers present in politics which have inadvertently been formed by Anies. This K-Popers style ultimately makes individuals in the Humanies fandom more expressive in politics.

한중 대중문화의 기능적 담론 비교 연구

The purpose of this paper is to examine the meaning of popular culture in Korea and China, and to analyze and compare the pure and dysfunctions of popular culture in the two countries. In China since its transition into the market economy by the reform and opening, its people have become well-off and had more desire to enjoy culture. Under these circumstances pop culture played affirmative roles such as relieving economical and mental stress, educating people and forming civic society. On the other hand, because of cultural imperialism, cultural values and a way of thinking from the West have influenced upon Chinese pop culture and collapsed its traditional spiritual culture, causing the crisis of Chinese humanism. In Korea, the positive aspects of its pop culture are as follows: the Korean pop culture not only serves as a way to express oneself and relieve mental stress but also produces economical profit. However likewise the Chinese case, South Korea is confronted by the crisis of the humanities, traditional art and folk culture. Studying these diverse functions of the two nations’ pop cultures, I could understand the two cultures and seek plans to achieve mutual development gradually through the two countries’ cultural interchanges.

A Catalyst of Acculturation of Korean Pop Culture Towards Religious Attitude and Habits of BTS Army Indonesia: A Review of Communication Study

This research examines how Korean pop culture, especially through the music group BTS, functions as a catalyst in influencing the religious attitudes and habits of their fans (Army) in Indonesia. Using a communication science framework, this research explores the process of intercultural communication that occurs through social media, as well as how the messages conveyed by BTS are constructed, disseminated, and interpreted by their fans. The research method used is a qualitative approach, involving in-depth interviews and participatory observation of members of the Lampung Army. Media content analysis was also carried out to understand the influence of BTS content on fans' religious attitudes and habits. The research results show that the influence of BTS and Korean pop culture creates a complex dynamic between the adoption of new cultural elements and the maintenance of existing religious values. The findings of this research provide insight into the role of communication in cultural acculturation and its impact on non-secular aspects of fans' lives, also contributing to the understanding of how media and intercultural communication can influence religious identity and practice in the era of digital globalization. These findings are important for cross-cultural studies, the sociology of religion, and communication science, and provide practical guidance for researchers and practitioners in the fields of communication and culture.

Beyond the Korean Wave: Understanding the Motivation of Among Indonesian Gen Z to Learn Korean in the K-Pop Trend

This research aims to uncover the motivation that drives the Indonesian Generation Z (Gen Z) to learn Korean and absorb Korean Pop culture as a lifestyle that is now increasingly trendy. Pop-Korean Language and Culture referred to in this research is the Pop-Korean language and culture used in South Korea, a language that has recently become popular with young people not only in Indonesia but in several other countries in the world. This research was designed with the aim of; 1) to reveal the motivations that encourage Gen Z to learn Korean, and 2) to measure their level of perception of Korean pop culture. The results of this research show that Gen Z’s interest in Korean in the trend of K-Pop is caused by K-Pop being a trend among the younger generation. The implications of this research contribute to the reader’s understanding that the cultural orientation of Gen Z is different from the Old Generation who tend to keep themselves away from new things.

How K-pop Fans Utilize Conventional and Subcultural Frameworks to Construct Fan Identities: A Case Study of Seungri and the Burning Sun Scandal

ABSTRACT In this article, we examine how fans on social media platforms manage their identities when faced with moral dilemmas in which their self-images and parasocial relations with idols are jeopardized. In particular, we explore how fans use social identification and deviant labeling as strategies to position themselves as distinct but not deviant cultural consumers. We choose a particular case of stigmatization within the Korean pop culture context – the Burning Sun Scandal involving Korean idol Seungri – to demonstrate this process. Drawing on concepts from social identity, subcultures, and deviance scholarship, we show how fans involved in discussions about the Burning Sun scandal explicitly linked themselves to conventional and/or subcultural moral and behavioral norms, while altercasting fans who expressed differing opinions regarding the idol’s guilt versus innocence. Through the analysis of fans’ identity claims, this study provides insights into how fans manage positive self-identification against a backdrop of media discourses in which the moral reputations of celebrity idols are called into question.

Global Cultural Integration Strategies of Korean Entertainment Companies Regarding the Idol Culture Industry: The Case of SM Entertainment

The study focuses on the global cultural integration of Korean entertainment companies regarding the idol culture industry, using SM Entertainment as a case study for in-depth analysis. Idol culture, as a part of Korean pop culture, has achieved great success globally over the past decades. With the rise of digital media, the trend of internationalization in the entertainment industry has become more pronounced. The acceptance of different cultures by audiences in different countries has also become one of the focal points of research. This study will focus on SM Entertainment's successful practices in overseas markets such as Asia, with a special focus on how it has integrated the Korean Wave culture to satisfy the aesthetic and cultural needs of audiences in different countries and regions in order to increase its acceptability in the international market. The company's strategies in terms of artist image, music style, and promotional techniques are examined in depth. Ultimately, this study provides insights into SM Entertainment's success in achieving cultural integration and adapting to multicultural demands, which is important for understanding global cultural communication, the internationalization of the entertainment industry, and the dissemination of local culture in the international market.

Research on Narrative Strategies in Korean Variety Shows and Youth Self-identification: A Case Study of 'Biong Biong Planet Game Room'

Korean variety shows, with their distinctive entertainment style and gamification, have become a widely disseminated part of Korean pop culture, creating a unique cultural landscape. "Biong Biong Planet Game Room," a variety show produced in South Korea in 2022, combines travel reality shows with competitive games, enriching the emotional expression of variety shows through the construction of multiple spaces. This paper, based on the analysis of the narrative strategies of "Biong Biong Planet Game Room," explores the narrative paths of the show. It also examines how contemporary youths seek self-identification within such shows and project their self-awareness into them. Through this analysis, the paper identifies three ways in which young people construct their self-identity: resonating with the narrative subjects, immersing in the narrative space, and being attracted and engaged by the diverse and intertwined narrative structures. This research also provides insights into the development path for Chinese variety shows.

Korean Wave's Influence on BT21 Purchases in Indonesia

The influence of Korean Wave Brand Ambassadors and Influencers on purchasing decisions for BIS "BT21" products was examined in this study. Korean Wave, a phenomenon of Korean pop culture, has significantly impacted global markets. Companies leverage this trend to boost product sales through brand ambassadors and influencers. Despite its popularity, the specific impact on consumer purchasing decisions remains underexplored. This study aims to fill this gap by analyzing the effects of Korean Wave, Brand Ambassadors, and Influencers on BT21 product purchasing decisions in Sidoarjo, East Java. Using a quantitative approach, the research sampled 96 consumers who have purchased BT21 products, employing the Lemeshow formula for sampling. Data were collected through a questionnaire with a 5-point Likert scale and analyzed using SmartPLS version 3.0 software. The results indicated that the Korean Wave positively and significantly influences purchasing decisions for BT21 products. Similarly, Brand Ambassadors and Influencers also have a positive and significant impact on purchasing decisions. The findings suggest that the Korean Wave, alongside strategic use of Brand Ambassadors and Influencers, can effectively enhance consumer loyalty and boost product sales. These results have important implications for marketing strategies, particularly in leveraging cultural phenomena and influential figures to drive consumer behavior. Highlight: Significant Impact: Korean Wave, Brand Ambassadors, and Influencers significantly influence BT21 purchasing decisions. Quantitative Analysis: Study used quantitative methods and SmartPLS software for data analysis. Marketing Strategies: Findings highlight the importance of leveraging cultural trends and influential figures in marketing. Keywoard: Korean Wave, Brand Ambassadors, Influencers, BT21, Consumer Behavior

Divergent Approaches to Disseminating Pop Culture in China and Korea

China and South Korea, two of the most influential countries in Asia, boast highly popular pop cultures that resonate both across Asia and globally. While Chinese and Korean pop culture shares similarities, there are also notable differences in their modes of dissemination. Previous studies have analyzed the dissemination of pop culture within individual countries, but there is still a research gap on the differences between these two countries. Therefore, this paper seeks to explore the variations in how pop culture spreads in China and Korea, as well as their implications. The paper adopts the methods of literature review and comparative analysis to compare the ways of popular culture dissemination in China and South Korea in terms of media platforms, marketing strategies, cultural exchanges and integration, and the roles of their respective states. The paper argues that the differences in popular culture dissemination between China and Korea mainly manifest in the following aspects: different channels and modes of dissemination, distinct definitions and scopes of popular culture, as well as variations in audiences and influences. Many factors can influence the spread of popular culture, such as social environment, technology level, and political system.

Study on the Image Construction of Korean Popular Talk Show Variety Artists

As an extremely important part of the development of Korean pop culture represented by the Korean "idol" industry, the artiste image is supported and loved by a wide range of fans for its strong style, vibrant and visually appealing, and trend-setting beauty. As an entertainment medium in the new era, variety shows have also made a significant contribution to the development of the Korean cultural industry. Therefore, the image construction method that takes "the contrast of the artist's image" as the main entry point can maximally amplify the artist's own charismatic focus under the angle of variety show shooting, especially under the interview nature of the conversation camera, which not only allows the audience to understand and comprehend the artist, but also gives the artist a space for better emotional communication with the fans. It also gives the artiste a space to communicate with their fans emotionally.

Trial Analysis of the Encounter of Japanese and Korean Pop Culture in Local Variety Art from the Perspective of Cultural Integration TakeSisters Who Make Waves for Example

Since the 1980s, Japanese and Korean pop culture has been widely disseminated in China in the form of film and television productions. This created a wave of popularity among young people, and led to the formation of two typical Chinese youth subcultures that have had a great influence on television programmes to this day: the Ha-Japanese and the Ha-Korean subcultures. In the era of new media, both online and traditional programmes have emerged simultaneously, and most of the audiences favourite variety shows have left their mark only by virtue of their initial novelty, and have been quickly replaced by new programmes and faded into obscurity. However, the emergence of Ride the Wind 2023 seems to have broken the law of three seasons of decline for domestic variety shows. Taking Ride the Wind 2023 as an example, this paper adopts the methods of literature research, comparative research, questionnaire survey and case study to clarify the influence of Japanese and Korean popular culture in domestic variety arts. It explores the fit between variety arts and the ideological development of real society, the presentation effect of the programmes audiovisual content, and the way of localisation of the introduced variety arts. Attempts are made to find a feasible way to effectively achieve a good influence of world culture in Chinese localised variety arts. It also discusses the compatibility of variety arts with the ideological development of real society, the effect of audiovisual content presentation, and the way of localisation of variety arts in China.

Bondage of Standard: Interaction between K-pop Culture and Male Gaze

In the context of contemporary social entertainment prosperity, Korean pop culture, known as K-pop, subtly and gradually influences young people and the world due to its globalization and attraction to a large number of young viewers. However, because of the restrictions of artistic expression in the past, which created a patriarchal social system, and the glutton of pursuing fans finance, the male gaze is still present in typical manifestations of Korean entertainment culture such as music videos, song lyrics, and television dramas, and has an undetectable effect on womens self-awareness and perception of beauty standard. Contacting interviews and going through case studies, the paper analyzes the embodiment of the male gaze in Korean popular culture and its influence on women and concludes that established under aesthetic hegemony and following the male gaze, K-pop culture gradually undermined womens self-awareness and conclusion that their pursuit of diverse beauty due to its popularity and expansion.

Analyzing Social Media Strategy in Korean Music Industries

The Korean Wave (K-wave), also known as Hallyu, is the term used to describe the phenomenon of Korean pop culture, including TV dramas, movies, pop music, fashion, and online games, becoming widely popular and shared among the people of Japan, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and other Asian nations. Korean pop music, also known as K-pop, became a major component of the second K-wave after the first K-wave's drama-focused craze. Additionally, K-pop's fanbase has grown outside of Asia to the West thanks to the quick adoption of social media platforms like YouTube and Twitter. The popularity of K-pop throughout the world helps to improve the perception of "Korea" and has a positive effect on the Korean economy. According to reports, Korea has 1,000 active entertainment agencies in addition to the "big three" record labels and agencies: SM Entertainment, YG Entertainment, and JYP Entertainment. In this instance, we talk about the K-pop phenomenon's global appeal and how social media has contributed to the genre's recent boom. Our lessons on how to manage social media strategically, with a focus on the major agencies mentioned above, include: aligning your strategic business model with social media; maximizing different social media channels; enticing customers with on- and offline promotions; and stimulating audience with exclusive content.