Week 2 - Naomi Almanzor

Question – Week 2: In your opinion, which factor in the National Aesthetic model (government, people, or industry) has the most influence over South Korea's development and why?

The development and reinforcement of cultural policy throughout all of South Korea’s governments has helped to build its present image. This can be seen through government funding for cultural industries for the sake of encouraging cultural identity as well as its progressive openness towards other countries for cultural exchange, including Japan and North Korea (Yim, 2002). Evidence of South Korea's promotion of cultural exchange and openness to other countries can also be seen through increased accessibility of its music and dramas to international audiences through the addition of English subtitles, concert venues in locations outside of Asia, such as Colombia, Mexico, France, and the U.S., and channels that connect international audiences to issues in South Korea.

I believe the Industry factor has the most influence over South Korea’s development as a global competitor. The rise in international popularity of South Korea's pop culture in such a relatively short period of time can be seen through the statistics given involving the music and film industries of South Korea. From the film industry's rise in export sales from $472,000 to $58 million in 2004, as well as how Korean pop music had 60% of the domestic music market in the late 1990s, it is clear how strongly and how quickly South Korea had managed to develop (Joo). 

I think that South Korea could improve in being a bit more culturally sensitive, and use lesser cultural stereotypes to represent other cultures, as seen through the advertisement shown in class and the usage of blackface in some programs, although in cases such as the latter, an apology is usually issued not too long after.

My Question: Given how disparate the cultures in North and South Korea are, if the current government’s “sunshine policy” and other possible future policies lead to a successful unification of both Koreas, will a fusion of cultures be more beneficial, or a maintenance of this distinction of cultures?

Image : http://roboseyo.blogspot.com/2012/02/blackface-in-korea-again-bubble-sisters.html

Sources:

 Haksoon Yim (2002) Cultural identity and cultural policy in South Korea,

International Journal of Cultural Policy, 8:1, 37-48, DOI: 10.1080/10286630290032422

Joo, J. (n.d.). Transnationalization of Korean Popular Culture and the Rise of "Pop Nationalism" in Korea.