Essay Contest Result
Understand Korea through Present Korean Media
The Understanding Korea materials have been trying to give the 'precise' information on the issues or topics that are related to South Korea. At the same time, "the materials" have been working to enhance and improve Korea's positive foreign image by creating contents and providing them to organizations and agencies that require the materials for research or classroom use. Accordingly, the developer, the Academy of Korean Studies (AKS), has so far released 12 volumes that cover a wide range of Korea-related topics. In each volume, they provide some fundamental knowledge and some in-depth information about the topics. For instance, the eleventh volume that explores the history of Korean cuisine or the latest volume that provides an introduction to Korean women. As a result, generals who want to learn more about Korea or students and academics who are researching Korean Studies will find the Understanding Korea resources to be highly useful.
Although it may seem positive that the materials were pushed for widespread use based on what has been said, they continue to receive little attention, and their full potential is not being utilized. The causes might be that 1) some of the topics may be so "specific" that only a select group of people who are truly interested in them would use the materials 2) the themes have not yet reflected what 'most' people want to know and 3) the publication of each volume may take long time that it could be simpler to obtain other sources instead. In this essay, I therefore suggest that the creator of the Understanding Korea materials may need to alter some of the publication method and contents to create 'a new version' that better caters to the readers. What I mean by a 'new version' is that the materials in each volume may need to include a variety of topics that are now of interest to the majority of people, and they should reflect the 'real' side of the story that will be able to alter the reader's perception of Korea. Consequently, one of the topics that I would suggest to include in the materials is the content related to the Korean Wave, which is something that the world is giving attention to. However, they must also be published swiftly enough to pique public attention due to the ongoing change in the subject and people's interests.
Nowadays, the Hallyu, or Korean Wave, has become more widespread in modern times. The media produced in Korea, especially K-pop and K-drama, has captured the attention of many people worldwide. Additionally, the platforms available for watching the media grow even more, largely online. As a result, the number of people who are interested in learning more about Korea is growing daily. Also, those media is regarded as Korea's significant Soft Power. However, the question is what do people really want to know about Korea, and how? Undoubtedly, the Korean Wave media contributes to the reasons.
First off, a number of K-dramas these days have incorporated historical Korean events, or present Korea phenomenon into their plots. As an illustration, consider the well-known drama "Reply 1988" which included the 1988 Seoul Olympics and numerous societal issues in its plotline, or the Netflix series "D.P." which explores the Korean Military system. Many people, including myself, are constantly interested in what was told in the series after, or while watching it. Undoubtedly, when people want to know something, they would have looked up the information online since it is the easiest way. As is well known, however, the material on the internet is so widely dispersed that it is impossible to tell if they are all accurate or biased against the writer. Additionally, since the content is about Korea, they might find the Korean version of information rather than the English version. Hence, those who do not understand Korean may take the simplest approach to information gathering, decide to read and trust the fastest material they received, which could cause them to get false information and 'misunderstand' Korea.
To solve the aforementioned problems, the Understanding Korea materials are critical. Since what people need to know is about Korea, accordingly, the materials' authors may take this opportunity to produce a new edition, or another version that contains inaccurate information about what was revealed in present Korean media. In each volume, the materials may include topics, issues, or information that people who watch those media should know. For instance, the drama "Reply 1988" which makes the 1988 Seoul Olympics its central topic, the Understanding Korea materials may describe what transpired in that year. It could be divided into a variety of subjects or events that occurred in that year. Namely, information about the 1988 Seoul Olympics, the venue, the participating nations, and the country's environment at the time. Additionally, the materials can also go through the student protest that occurred at that time, its causes, and subsequent developments. Even though these are historical occurrences from the past, they will help people who only know one side of South Korea from the media understand what the country has been through and how Korea's past democratization has shaped the country's present. As a result, those who are familiar with Korea through its television dramas and want to learn more about the events depicted therein will eventually be able to do so, while also gaining a deeper understanding of the country at the same time.
Further, not only historical events, but also Korean culture, which has been published in the materials like the previous volume, can be combined and told in the same publication. That is to say, people who learn about Korean culture through dramas will be better equipped to describe how the culture is actually practiced more. Also, if they would like to learn more in de-depth, the Understanding Korea materials may also provide them with the information they need to know. For instance, a lot of K-dramas have dining scenes with friends and family as well as a "hoesik" (회식). Accordingly, people may learn more about Korean food from the materials volume 11 that discusses Korean cuisine and its history. However, what they might not know is the table manners that are also included in the series as well. For that reason, I think the Understanding Korea materials will aid in their understanding of the culture by picking out specific instances from the dramas and elaborating on the reasons why certain table manners are observed. Consequently, people will gain a better understanding of Korea while also learning about their culture at the same time.
The recommendations made above, in my opinion, will be very beneficial not only for academics or students but also for generals who want to learn more about Korea. Therefore, this will encourage a wider range of users to use the materials more. However, to use K-dramas or other Korean media as one of the primary topics to discuss about Korean history and culture, the publishing of each volume may have to be as regular as they might be. It is because the new K-dramas typically release at least once a month, and while they are on television and popular, many people tend to pay close attention to them. Meanwhile, if the materials are released more regularly, say once every one or two months, those who enjoy studying the topics covered in the Understanding Korea materials will also be more likely to keep reading and using the materials since they can expect when the next volume will be available.
After the development of the new version, and the making of more regular publications, the next stage for the Understanding Korea materials to be more successful is to expand the user base and enticing people to utilize the materials more. To do so, firstly, the materials must receive more widespread promotion. In other words, it should be promoted worldwide. There are two ways. First, the AKS can distribute the resources to its international partner universities. This makes it simpler for international students who are interested in Korean Studies or who are studying Korean language to access the resources at their own university. Additionally, because the information is accurate from a scholarly perspective, they can also utilize them as one of their sources for research or study. Second, to aid in the distribution and promotion of the materials, the AKS may collaborate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, particularly through the Korean Embassies and the Korean Cultural Centers. Due to the fact that there are Korean Embassies located all over the world, the materials can be distributed to the general public there as well. The Embassies can also advance their public diplomacy by distributing the materials to local educational institutions, and hosting seminars or other events for local people and students that touch on the subjects covered in the materials. Third, carry out the online advertising. Given the abundance of Korean governmental websites available online and in several languages, this method is the simplest. In particular, the pages for Korean embassies, Korean education centers, and Korean cultural centers. In consequence, the AKS may cooperate with the Korean governmental organizations in other countries to aid in promoting the availability and utilization of the materials.
Secondly, organize seminars or other events to increase the generals' and students' knowledge of the Understanding Korea materials. In the past, the AKS has already traveled abroad to meet with foreign government groups and agencies that are involved in locals' textbooks and education. In light of this, I would advise the AKS to continue doing this in order to maintain contact with them in the event that there is any recommendation or support for using the materials in those nations. However, what the developers should do next is to focus more on developing a close relationship with the actual users, whether they are students or the broader public. To do this, the AKS may collaborate with foreign partner universities to offer seminars on subjects related to Understanding Korea and invite professors, students interested in Korean Studies, or both, to participate in scholarly discussions. Additionally, to make it more engaging for students, the developers may host events like cultural activities, or quizzes where the materials are used to create the questions. Thus, I assume this will lead to better familiarity with and utilization of the Understanding Korea materials.
The aforementioned ideas on how to create the new materials and how to encourage people to use and interact with them more are, in my opinion, the means by which Understanding Korea will be utilized to its fullest extent. Even though it might seem difficult to put my suggestions into practice, they are based on things that the Korean government actually achieved and coordinated. I therefore think they can be implemented by the AKS and that they will produce positive outcomes. That is to say, the new version of materials will more reflect and respond to most people's curiosity about Korea on varied topics included in the volume that they can find out, especially the events and culture in K-dramas. Moreover, the materials will be more well recognized due to the promotion and activities made by the AKS incorporated with government agencies such as Korean Embassies, Cultural Centers and Education Centers that will make people engage more with the materials.
Now that the Korean Wave is continuing to spread over the globe, I believe it is important to increase global access to Korean Studies and educational materials in order to foster more mutual understanding and strengthen Korea's ties with other countries. Obviously, now is the right time.
Although it may seem positive that the materials were pushed for widespread use based on what has been said, they continue to receive little attention, and their full potential is not being utilized. The causes might be that 1) some of the topics may be so "specific" that only a select group of people who are truly interested in them would use the materials 2) the themes have not yet reflected what 'most' people want to know and 3) the publication of each volume may take long time that it could be simpler to obtain other sources instead. In this essay, I therefore suggest that the creator of the Understanding Korea materials may need to alter some of the publication method and contents to create 'a new version' that better caters to the readers. What I mean by a 'new version' is that the materials in each volume may need to include a variety of topics that are now of interest to the majority of people, and they should reflect the 'real' side of the story that will be able to alter the reader's perception of Korea. Consequently, one of the topics that I would suggest to include in the materials is the content related to the Korean Wave, which is something that the world is giving attention to. However, they must also be published swiftly enough to pique public attention due to the ongoing change in the subject and people's interests.
Nowadays, the Hallyu, or Korean Wave, has become more widespread in modern times. The media produced in Korea, especially K-pop and K-drama, has captured the attention of many people worldwide. Additionally, the platforms available for watching the media grow even more, largely online. As a result, the number of people who are interested in learning more about Korea is growing daily. Also, those media is regarded as Korea's significant Soft Power. However, the question is what do people really want to know about Korea, and how? Undoubtedly, the Korean Wave media contributes to the reasons.
First off, a number of K-dramas these days have incorporated historical Korean events, or present Korea phenomenon into their plots. As an illustration, consider the well-known drama "Reply 1988" which included the 1988 Seoul Olympics and numerous societal issues in its plotline, or the Netflix series "D.P." which explores the Korean Military system. Many people, including myself, are constantly interested in what was told in the series after, or while watching it. Undoubtedly, when people want to know something, they would have looked up the information online since it is the easiest way. As is well known, however, the material on the internet is so widely dispersed that it is impossible to tell if they are all accurate or biased against the writer. Additionally, since the content is about Korea, they might find the Korean version of information rather than the English version. Hence, those who do not understand Korean may take the simplest approach to information gathering, decide to read and trust the fastest material they received, which could cause them to get false information and 'misunderstand' Korea.
To solve the aforementioned problems, the Understanding Korea materials are critical. Since what people need to know is about Korea, accordingly, the materials' authors may take this opportunity to produce a new edition, or another version that contains inaccurate information about what was revealed in present Korean media. In each volume, the materials may include topics, issues, or information that people who watch those media should know. For instance, the drama "Reply 1988" which makes the 1988 Seoul Olympics its central topic, the Understanding Korea materials may describe what transpired in that year. It could be divided into a variety of subjects or events that occurred in that year. Namely, information about the 1988 Seoul Olympics, the venue, the participating nations, and the country's environment at the time. Additionally, the materials can also go through the student protest that occurred at that time, its causes, and subsequent developments. Even though these are historical occurrences from the past, they will help people who only know one side of South Korea from the media understand what the country has been through and how Korea's past democratization has shaped the country's present. As a result, those who are familiar with Korea through its television dramas and want to learn more about the events depicted therein will eventually be able to do so, while also gaining a deeper understanding of the country at the same time.
Further, not only historical events, but also Korean culture, which has been published in the materials like the previous volume, can be combined and told in the same publication. That is to say, people who learn about Korean culture through dramas will be better equipped to describe how the culture is actually practiced more. Also, if they would like to learn more in de-depth, the Understanding Korea materials may also provide them with the information they need to know. For instance, a lot of K-dramas have dining scenes with friends and family as well as a "hoesik" (회식). Accordingly, people may learn more about Korean food from the materials volume 11 that discusses Korean cuisine and its history. However, what they might not know is the table manners that are also included in the series as well. For that reason, I think the Understanding Korea materials will aid in their understanding of the culture by picking out specific instances from the dramas and elaborating on the reasons why certain table manners are observed. Consequently, people will gain a better understanding of Korea while also learning about their culture at the same time.
The recommendations made above, in my opinion, will be very beneficial not only for academics or students but also for generals who want to learn more about Korea. Therefore, this will encourage a wider range of users to use the materials more. However, to use K-dramas or other Korean media as one of the primary topics to discuss about Korean history and culture, the publishing of each volume may have to be as regular as they might be. It is because the new K-dramas typically release at least once a month, and while they are on television and popular, many people tend to pay close attention to them. Meanwhile, if the materials are released more regularly, say once every one or two months, those who enjoy studying the topics covered in the Understanding Korea materials will also be more likely to keep reading and using the materials since they can expect when the next volume will be available.
After the development of the new version, and the making of more regular publications, the next stage for the Understanding Korea materials to be more successful is to expand the user base and enticing people to utilize the materials more. To do so, firstly, the materials must receive more widespread promotion. In other words, it should be promoted worldwide. There are two ways. First, the AKS can distribute the resources to its international partner universities. This makes it simpler for international students who are interested in Korean Studies or who are studying Korean language to access the resources at their own university. Additionally, because the information is accurate from a scholarly perspective, they can also utilize them as one of their sources for research or study. Second, to aid in the distribution and promotion of the materials, the AKS may collaborate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, particularly through the Korean Embassies and the Korean Cultural Centers. Due to the fact that there are Korean Embassies located all over the world, the materials can be distributed to the general public there as well. The Embassies can also advance their public diplomacy by distributing the materials to local educational institutions, and hosting seminars or other events for local people and students that touch on the subjects covered in the materials. Third, carry out the online advertising. Given the abundance of Korean governmental websites available online and in several languages, this method is the simplest. In particular, the pages for Korean embassies, Korean education centers, and Korean cultural centers. In consequence, the AKS may cooperate with the Korean governmental organizations in other countries to aid in promoting the availability and utilization of the materials.
Secondly, organize seminars or other events to increase the generals' and students' knowledge of the Understanding Korea materials. In the past, the AKS has already traveled abroad to meet with foreign government groups and agencies that are involved in locals' textbooks and education. In light of this, I would advise the AKS to continue doing this in order to maintain contact with them in the event that there is any recommendation or support for using the materials in those nations. However, what the developers should do next is to focus more on developing a close relationship with the actual users, whether they are students or the broader public. To do this, the AKS may collaborate with foreign partner universities to offer seminars on subjects related to Understanding Korea and invite professors, students interested in Korean Studies, or both, to participate in scholarly discussions. Additionally, to make it more engaging for students, the developers may host events like cultural activities, or quizzes where the materials are used to create the questions. Thus, I assume this will lead to better familiarity with and utilization of the Understanding Korea materials.
The aforementioned ideas on how to create the new materials and how to encourage people to use and interact with them more are, in my opinion, the means by which Understanding Korea will be utilized to its fullest extent. Even though it might seem difficult to put my suggestions into practice, they are based on things that the Korean government actually achieved and coordinated. I therefore think they can be implemented by the AKS and that they will produce positive outcomes. That is to say, the new version of materials will more reflect and respond to most people's curiosity about Korea on varied topics included in the volume that they can find out, especially the events and culture in K-dramas. Moreover, the materials will be more well recognized due to the promotion and activities made by the AKS incorporated with government agencies such as Korean Embassies, Cultural Centers and Education Centers that will make people engage more with the materials.
Now that the Korean Wave is continuing to spread over the globe, I believe it is important to increase global access to Korean Studies and educational materials in order to foster more mutual understanding and strengthen Korea's ties with other countries. Obviously, now is the right time.
[Excellence Prize]
Surasak Muangdee
(Country of Activity : Thailand)
Surasak Muangdee
(Country of Activity : Thailand)
