Essay Contest Result

Korean pop (K-pop) performers in vibrant outfits, top-ranked Netflix dramas and internationally recognized films, and globally viral trendy social media challenges — with the advent and the continuous upward trajectory of the Korean Wave or more popularly known as “Hallyu”, Korea has taken over the world by storm with its unique take on the entertainment industry, palatable enough for the current generation to deep dive in. Particularly, the rise of the Korean culture could be attributed to the rapid advance in technology – specifically the internet and social networking sites – which undeniably hastened the spread of Korean popular culture in Asia and shortly, the world. This form of soft power subtly injects Korean culture and the arts into the daily lives of people all around the globe, and considering the assets that the Hallyu has brought to the country, it is a vital tool for refining the international images of Korea.

However, to utilize the Hallyu effectively, one must recognize it as only a vantage point to impart more information about the country; it should not be treated as the be-all and end-all of the Korean image, but rather, a medium wherein the rich Korean culture and history could be shared through. For instance, the 7-member group BTS (also known as Bangtan Sonyeondan) has soared to be an international sensation, creating viral moments and unforgettable performances that prompted their international fans to grow curious about their daily lives as trainees before they became globally recognized superstars. This included tracing back to their homegrown, Korean-raised practices and habits up to their frequently visited cafés and restaurants. With BTS already being featured in international exams and textbooks worldwide, the potential to utilize the Hallyu as a means to spread the Korean influence and further enrich the Korean imagery in educational materials is limitless.

To extend the aforementioned example, BTS has frequently visited Yoojung Sikdang and designated it as their favorite restaurant when they were still trainees. While this could just be a mere fun fact or possibly, a tourist destination for BTS Army (the boy group’s dedicated and gigantic global fandom), the Korean food or Hansik in the restaurant could be highlighted when such a trivia is mentioned. This could then be further trickled down into the specific ingredients that go into each dish, why every food served is best eaten and specific to Korea, and how one certain recipe came to be. Moreover, in the episode of Rookie King where the restaurant was featured, the ties of BTS and the owner of Yoojung Sikdang, Kang Sun-Ja, were put into the spotlight, with Kang mentioning in her previous interviews that she treated BTS members as her own sons. The mutual respect of the members and the owner could be attributed to the Korean etiquette deeply rooted in the traditional Confucian values; this aspect could additionally be highlighted when introducing Korean culture in international instruction materials.

It is undeniable that BTS paved the way for Hallyu to intensify its magnitude, but with K-pop now consisting of countless boy and girl groups, the possibilities for extending the previous example of building a rapport with K-pop and inserting fragments of Korean culture and history will be endless. For example, the simple bowing of Koreans when they meet each other on the street, the taking off of one’s footwear before entering an abode, or the giving and receiving of objects with both hands, could be incorporated into article mentions, academic materials, and even online think pieces where K-pop is promoted. This comes with the need for any material with the goal of successfully depicting the Korean image to come in various platforms and types which could range from textbooks, novels, podcasts, music books, videos, GIFs, and even braille books to accommodate persons with disabilities (PWDs).

The Academy of Korean Studies (AKS) continuously endeavors to better the image of Korea to the world with genuine intent and utmost passion to educate through resources that could be freely accessed online. However, the current repository of resources, albeit excellently crafted and illustrated, is mostly limited to written sources and newsletters. Videos and animations are also separately available and could be accessed on their Youtube account. With the recognition of various learning types brought about by multiple intelligences, valuable resources of Korean knowledge only available through reading or watching could not be sufficient to accommodate the growing number of lovers and learners of Korean culture and history. To solve such a bottleneck, exploration of other modern platforms such as audio streaming applications (Spotify and Apple Music), short-form content applications (Tiktok, Instagram Reels, Youtube Shorts), and webtoons and manhwas (comics and print cartoons) could be pursued.

To exemplify, with the highlight on the previously elaborated method of building a rapport through Hallyu subsequently followed by introducing Korean habits and culture, podcasts on audio streaming sites could have K-pop artists as guests where they have segments that introduce a piece of Korean history or an important individual who contributed immensely to societal advancement; for instance, King Sejong and his influence to the Hangul way of writing. Additionally, they could also talk about a piece of Korean culture that they desire to impart to fans and future generations; for instance, the use of honorifics when conversing with someone older. On the other hand, short-form content could highlight more Korean practices, festivals, architecture, and the likes that are best represented visually in bite-sized media. The content creation aspect is a significant characteristic of the MZ generation, and with topics ranging from the broad meaning of festivals and how to attend them to the specific use of a certain Korean expression or article of clothing, the Korean imagery could be more vividly painted for the international audiences.

The adaptation of webtoons and manhwas into movies or series such as True Beauty (2020) and Business Proposal (2022) could be a potential departure point to expand the current archive of Understanding Korea materials as they cater to the chunk of the global population who is fascinated with seeing characters and colors in print media. With Hallyu in mind, real-life examples of Korean idols, actors, or artists could be depicted in such media, and their day-to-day use of Korean words - which could include various dialects to modern-day slangs - to their utilization of staple Korean practices, could be accentuated. Moreover, the foundation built in Hallyu could draw in more fans to get interested not only in their favorite idols or actors, but in the Korean culture - this will, ultimately, result in enhanced retention, readability, and repeatability of internationally-targeted Korean materials.

The Understanding Korea materials have a recurring theme: education. The current written materials are designed for lecturers and professors to share, hence the “Infokorea : An Essential Guide for Educators” series. The other Understanding Korea Series are seemingly targeted to a similar demographic, although different topics such as Seoul, Korean Confucianism, Cultural History of Korean Houses, and the likes are admirably tackled in every edition. This concretizes the perspective that the current array of materials is fabricated to cater educators and those that are in academic setups — and while this is a valiant and valid cause, additional modifications could be implemented with regards to the type of learners, the dominant language in a certain area, and the type of storytelling that comes with each material.

To start, the type of learners could not only vary based on their educational level or their comfortable learning style, but also on physical conditions. Certain learners could be hard-of-hearing (HoH), visually impaired, or mute, and they require special attention and learning strategies to be able to comprehend academic materials effectively. For example, for HoH learners to visualize Korean music, soundwave versions of Korean songs or traditional instrument snippets could be modeled. An audiobook version of the materials could be prepared for visually impaired learners to utilize; additionally, a braille copy option, which could be shipped directly to them or their academic institutions, could be made available. Individuals with speech difficulties will find it difficult to communicate verbally, therefore editions of the materials with touch-interactive options could be invented. Moreover, a special edition containing Korean sign language could also be published. Through these modifications and additions, the Understanding Korea Materials could be more inclusive for PWD communities.

A welcome development in the recently publicized “Korea Unraveled: Legends, Lingering Scars, and the K-Pop Boom” is the preparation of the material in three languages other than English, namely Russian, French, and Spanish. However, there is a huge part of the population, specifically those in developing countries, who speak neither of the three and have obstacles with English as their second language. To ensure that this part of the Korean learner population is not left out, in the future, the language pool for materials could be slowly expanded until everyone – regardless of ethnicity - could understand and be enticed to learn more about Korea in their mother tongue.

Finally, the storytelling and structure for every edition could be tweaked and made appropriate for learners of varying ages. It cannot be denied that there are Korean parents abroad who want their kids to learn their ethnicity’s culture at a young age. Moreover, as early as elementary school, similar to my case, interest in another country’s history, practices, culture, and language, could already start to awaken. With this, materials designed specifically for young learners should be created such as story books, flash cards, interactive applications, online games, and the likes. For the academics in tertiary education or further, the current selection of materials could suffice to inculcate the various features of Korea, but additional compilations of Korea-related research articles in various fields could further warrant better understanding of modern-day Korea and how it is shaped throughout history.

In sum, the establishment and continuous rise of the Hallyu is one of the most effective routes to share Korea with the world. The consistent development of materials that incorporate modern day Hallyu-introduced pop culture and the likes could manifest a profound affinity of Korea in potential learners. This may, in the long run, greatly contribute to the worldwide appreciation of Korea and create easily comprehensible images and depictions found in various print and digital media. The inclusion of PWDs, young learners, and demographic-specific language options could, moreover, ensure a thorough understanding of Korea in various sectors. Through these suggestions, the Understanding Korea materials could be revamped and new, more inclusive materials for all ages could be fabricated for sincere and passionate learners to indulge and learn from.