The Rise of South Korea as a Cultural Superpower

Introduction to the Asian Tigers

Over the last 70 years, East Asia has seen the rise of the 'Asian Tigers': Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and South Korea.
South Korea stands out as both an economic powerhouse and a cultural superpower.
Notable cultural exports include "Gangnam Style," "Squid Game," BTS, Blackpink, K-Dramas, and films like "Oldboy" and "Parasite."
"Parasite" was the first non-English film to win an Oscar for Best Film.

August 15, 1945: Japan's surrender marks the end of WWII and Korea's liberation from Japanese rule.
Division of Korea into North (Soviet influence) and South (U.S. influence) post-WWII.
1948: South Korea became a democratic nation, but North Korea became a communist dictatorship.
1950-1953: Korean War initiated by North Korea's invasion of the South.
Post-war, South Korea was one of the poorest nations globally, leading to authoritarian rule by President Rhee Syngman.
Series of coups and eventual return to democracy in 1987-88.

1960s-1990s: Censorship was rampant; government controlled media content.
1993: Hollywood film "Jurassic Park" highlighted the potential of media as a profitable industry.
1994: South Korea established the Cultural Industry Bureau.
1996: Introduction of Film Promotion Law to replace restrictive Motion Picture Law.

1962-1989: South Korea's GDP per capita increased fiftyfold.
Focus on export-oriented industrialization, including culture as an export.
The Chaebols (large family businesses) initially played a role but later exited due to the Asian Financial Crisis and IMF conditions.

Kim Dae-Jung's Era:
- 'Culture President' and South Korea's only Nobel Prize winner.
- 1999: Established Basic Laws for the Cultural Industry Promotion Project.
- Invested in cultural infrastructure, education, and the Digital Korea initiative.
- Relaxed censorship laws, promoting artistic freedom.

K-Dramas and K-Pop gained international popularity due to their emotional realism, diverse themes, and appeal to global audiences.
K-Dramas like "Squid Game" and bands like BTS and Blackpink achieved global fame.
K-Pop's structured idol system contributes to its global reach.

Avoid crony capitalism; monopolies can hurt economies as seen with South Korea's Chaebols.
Censorship stifles artistic expression; it's better to have no censorship.
Government intervention is crucial for developing and promoting cultural industries.
Potential for other countries or regions to replicate South Korea's cultural success by learning from their strategic export of culture.

South Korea's journey from poverty to cultural superpower is a result of strategic planning, government support, and leveraging cultural exports.
Other regions can learn from South Korea's model to promote local cultures and industries globally.