Origin of Hallyu (part-2)

 Origin of Hallyu (part-2)

In the previous article we looked at how Hallyu in the cultural field began and how it expanded to take the whole world up by storm. Through music, drama, music and other aspects, Korea has made an impact throughout the world. While it brought in a lot of revenue for the country, the Korean Wave was not just limited to this. After the Korean War, South Korea focused on economic development and building infrastructure. There was a lot of influence of technology, history and spirituality. In this article, we will look at all of these aspects in a little more detail.

Hallyu and History:

While there were a lot of changes in the political rule of Korea due to the shift in power from the Joseon dynasty to the Japanese colonization followed by liberation and the Korean War, the local folk culture that was popular among the public was slowly getting replaced by newer forms of entertainment. Motion pictures from America began becoming popular in 1910s and 1920s. during the Second World War, there was a brief time when Japan became the main sphere of cultural influence but America eventually took over via its broadcasting service, the American Forces Korea Network (AFKN). By 1950s, Korean cinema also began to pick up speed.

After the Korean War, Major General Park Chung-hee wanted to build a Korean identity free from the Japanese colonial influence and to restore pride in Korean culture and history which resulted in him announcing a wave of ethics committee and censorship regulations. The 1960s and 1970s saw a mass production and selling of radios and TVs in Korea. It became the perfect means to control and propagate their agenda, while for the citizens it was a source of home entertainment as they sat together to watch state-approved variety shows.

After Park, Major General Chun Doo-hwan began relaxing the earlier policies. With the convergence of youth culture, colour Tv and the portable cassette player, the 1980s saw the explosion of dance music. In 1994, the news that the box office from Steven Speilberg’s film Jurassic Park had outperformed the profit from the sale of 1.5 million Hyundai cars was not lost on Kim Young-sam’s administration, the first civilian government in 30 years. It acknowledged the huge economic potential and export value provided by the cultural industries.

 

General Major Chun Doo-Hwan (left) and Park Chung-Hee (right)

Source: Wikipedia

Around the same time, the internet, previously reserved for universities and research institutions, became accessible to all. Korea was eager to embrace the Digital Revolution and invested in the internet and information and communication technology (ICT) early on. When the Asian Financial Crisis blew the Korean economy to pieces in 1997, a new generation of unemployed diverted their effort and knowledge into IT-based businesses, leading ultimately to a rapid recovery from the crisis. In the wake of the crisis, Kim Dae-jung's government began to move away from manufacturing industries and prioritised instead the internet-, knowledge- and skill-based economy, alongside a focus on cultural industries, with the proactive aim to 'quadruple exports in cultural industries.'

Economic Development after the Korean War:

South Korean society underwent an equally rapid transformation after the Korean War. The population increased at a consistent rate. Simultaneously, modern education developed rapidly because of the involvement of the government and also because of the Korean’s zeal for education after decades of repression during the Japanese rule. The growth of educational institutions and of commercial and industrial enterprises in and around South Korea’s major cities attracted an increasing number of rural people to urban areas. There was a corresponding growth in communications media, especially newspaper and magazine publishing. An ambitious program was also undertaken to expand and modernize the country’s transportation infrastructure.

The most conspicuous social change in South Korea, however, was the emergence of the middle class. Land reform carried out in the early 1950s, together with the spread of modern education and the expansion of the economy, caused the disappearance of the once-privileged yangban (landholding) class, and a new elite emerged from the ranks of the former commoners. Another significant social change was the decline of the extended-family system: urbanisation broke traditional family living arrangements, as urban dwellers tended to live in apartments as nuclear families and have fewer children through family planning. In addition, women strenuously campaigned for complete legal equality and won property ownership rights.

 

Yangban- The Village Gentlemen

Source: Wikipedia

In the 1950s South Korea had an underdeveloped, agrarian economy that depended heavily on foreign aid. The military leadership that emerged in the early 1960s and pragmatic and flexible commitment to economic development resulted in what became known as the “miracle on the Han River.” During the next three decades, the South Korean economy grew at an average annual rate of nearly 9 percent, and per capita income increased more than a hundredfold. South Korea was transformed into an industrial powerhouse with a highly skilled labour force.

 

Rise of Chaebols (재벌):

The relationship between the South Korean government and chaebols has existed for a very long time. In the 1960s, South Korea was considered one of the poorest countries in the world. Its GDP per capita in 1960 was about 160 USD and the country depended on foreign aid. With the rise of then military dictator Park Chung Hee, the country was aiming to industrialize and grow into a major economic power. This led to rise of chaebols who would work together with the government to achieve that goal. The government would provide economic support to select companies in specific industries like cars and electronic goods, while the companies would work alongside the country’s economic plans. Even with the end of the dictatorship in 1988, the chaebols remained economically powerful as the country continued to grow and have received governmental support. 

Samsung (삼성), the leading player among the chaebols, who contributes to about 20% of South Korea’s GDP, was founded in 1938. Samsung started as a grocery trading store by Lee Byung Chul, the grandfather of current Chairman Lee Jae Young. It mainly traded noodles and other goods in the city of Daegu, nearby areas, and China. Over the years, it has diversified into other industries including electronics, machinery and heavy industries, and financial services across numerous countries in the world like the US, China, and Germany.

 

The leading Chaebols of South Korea

Chaebol Hyundai Motor Company (현대자동차), founded in 1967, is known for manufacturing and distributing whole and parts of automobiles. It owns the popular brands Kia, Hyundai, and Genesis. Among the domestic brands, they had the largest number of car sales in September 2022.  Lotte (롯데) has major businesses in food, retail, tourism/service/finance. It is the owner of Lotte Confectionary, Lotte Duty, Lotte World among many others. In addition to the large presence in the South Korean F&B market, Lotte Confectionary is successfully going global, with a doubled quarterly net profit from 2021 Q2to 2022 Q2. Its ice cream products are especially in-demand in India, Russia, and Kazakhstan. Lotte is also the owner of department stores, duty free shops, and hotels, contributing to the growth of South Korea’s luxury goods market, South Korea’s airline industry, and South Korea’s beauty market.

Spirituality: K-meditation:

Through the classes conducted by Hallyu Archetypal Cultural Delegation (HACD) one can learn about Yin and Yang, the 5 elements, Samsin, Mago and the 3 goddesses, and other aspects about spirituality while relating it to other cultures and present media references. With Singyo, one learns about the importance of certain symbols and numbers like 1, 3 and 7. Jeung San Do’s teaching focuses on the Cosmic Year and the Cosmic Seasons along with its characteristic features and how through meditation one can prepare oneself for the Cosmic Autumn that is soon approaching.

 

Meditation

Both articles collectively emphasis on how it took multiple aspects to create a momentous event like the Hallyu Wave. The cultural feature was probably what was visibly spread all over the world- there might be very few people who do not know about K-pop, K-drama or K-beauty. However, this article hopes to remind that such an event became a reality because of various difficulties, whether political or economic. In the end it was the perseverance of the local citizens, who along with the government and the business leaders, that brought Korea to where it is standing now. Even today, Korea has been maintaining its position through the efforts of various people. The author would like to appreciate all of these people.

References: 

Allison. (2023, July 26). Korean chaebols explained: The empires of South Korea. Daxue Consulting - Market Research and Consulting China. https://daxueconsulting.com/south-korean-chaebols/ 

Im, H. B., Lew, Y. I., & Lee, C. (2022). Economic and Social Developments. Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/South-Korea/Economic-and-social-developments 

Kim, R. (2022). The Hallyu origin story · V&A. Victoria and Albert Museum. https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/the-hallyu-origin-story