An African’s Perspective on Hallyu — South Korea’s Pop Culture Wave
I have come to love South Korea for many reasons, to the extent that I consider her my adopted country. Asides from the food — which is so good, Korean entertainment really stands out to me. Korea is probably the only country in the world that is deliberate about exporting its culture through entertainment, music, TV drama & movies, food, and cosmetics. The term “Hallyu” is a Chinese word that translates as the “Korean wave.”
Like many others, I have come under the influence of Hallyu as I have been in the business of watching K-Dramas for ten years now and consuming some of its exports as a channel of cultural exploration. For example, I am an avid listener of Korean music with a strong preference for old folk-rock. My love for Samsung gadgets is also a result of this influence.
To better appreciate the economic impact of the Hallyu movement, it’s important to take a look back in time.
BRIEF HISTORY OF MODERN-DAY SOUTH KOREA
For 35 years (1910–1945), the people of Korea lived under the colonial rule of Japan. They were forced to give up their farmlands, adopt Japanese names and religion, conscripted to fight China under the Japanese army, and were discouraged from speaking their language. During Japanese rule, there was…
