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Hallyu Report V – The impact

I. Korean image Through drama and music, the image of Korea has attained greater exposure to the world-wide audience. Hallyu makes foreigners feel a close connection with Korea and gain a certain understanding about the lives of Koreans. The extensive spread of Korean cultural products naturally causes international audience to feel intrigued by other aspects of [...]

Hallyu Report IV – The cause

One of the primary causes for Hallyu outbreak was the adoption of media liberation in many Asian countries in the 1990s, which resulted in a favorable environment fostering the cultural exchange of media products, which in turn benefited the spread of Hallyu. Hallyu was initially stimulated in 1997 by the screening of Korean drama “What [...]

Hallyu Report III – Korean drama

Korean dramas play a no less important role in popularizing Korean culture, particularly in the initial stage of Hallyu. The following section will cover the several notable examples of internationally successful Korean dramas, classified into three major categories: soap opera, historical drama, and idol drama. Soap Opera – Winter Sonata While most countries across East [...]

Hallyu Report II – Real life evidence(1)

Internet is not the only place to observe the rise of Korean Wave. International popularity comes with international activities and achievements. Let us now look at several representatives for Korean pop music and Korean dramas and their advance outside South Korean borders. a) Korean pop music Korean pop music (Kpop) presents many idols whose accomplishments and [...]

Hallyu Report I – Evidences

Hallyu,  also known as Korean Wave, refers to the spread of South Korean entertainment culture across the globe. The term ‘Korean Wave’ was created in the 1990s by Beijing journalists, who witnessed the exploding popularity of Korean cultural products in China (Kim 2007, cited in Lee 2011).. In most countries across East and Central Asia, [...]

Empress Myeongseong

Empress Myeongseong

Have you heard of Operation Fox Hunt? It involves a tragedy that happened in Korea. It was about 120 years ago. A queen of Korea was brutally assassinated. The assassin was hired by the Japanese government. The Eulmi Incident (1895) Murder of Queen Myeongseong Japan wanted to reinforce its influence on the Korean peninsula. For [...]

Great People of Korea (3)

Great People of Korea (3)

  18. Choi Mu-Seon (1325 – 1395) Choi Mu-Seon was an inventor best known for the production of Korea’s first gunpowder and cannons. During the Goryeo dynasty, he had already recognized the importance of gunpowder weapons, and suggested the establishment of a state institution committed to producing them. His inventions played a crucial role in [...]

Great People of Korea (2)

Great People of Korea (2)

8. Heo Gyun (1569 – 1618) & Heo Nanseolheon (1563 – 1589) Heo Gyun and Heo Nanseolheon were famous sibling writers during the Joseon dynasty. Heo Gyun authored the first Korean language novel, “The Tale of Hong Gildong.” His sister Nanseolheon wrote many poems that were highly commended by writers in Korea, China and Japan. [...]

Great People of Korea (1)

Great People of Korea (1)

1. Dae Jo-Young (?– 719, reign: 698 – 719) Dae Jo-Young was the founder of the Balhae kingdom. After the fall of the Goguryeo kingdom, he gathered the refugees and some Malgal tribes and established Balhae. Upon its founding in 698, he proclaimed that it was the successor of Goguryeo, both domestically and internationally, and [...]

King Sejong the Great

King Sejong the Great

Average annual growth rate over the last 10 years = 9.2% The first among G-20 member countries  GDP = $7.42 trillion The second largest in the world Military expenditure The second highest in the world Expected to become the world’s largest economic power by 2018 – The Economist, British weekly newspaper Expected to become the [...]

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