Korea in the 21st century can be said as successful in competing with Hollywood and Bollywood in expanding its culture to international community. Various types of Korean products starting from movie, song, fashion, lifestyle up to industrial products affect people’s life in many parts of the world, including Indonesia.
“Globalization of Korean pop culture or which is known as Hallyu succeeds to influence the world, particularly the youth in recent years,” said Suray Agung Nugroho, M.A, Head of Korean Department, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, Tuesday (25/1) in the seminar entitled Contemporary Korea: Youthful Spirit at Koesnardi Hardjasoemantri Cultural Center.
Suray said that Korean government is very responsive to understand the reality. The Korean government directly handles the movement to “export” Korean culture to foreign countries. Several universities in Korea have opened a special course about Hallyu. “Many academic studies have been done in Korea and universities and world class centers of studies to deepen the phenomenon and influence of Hallyu currently,” he explained.
According to Suray, there is one thing that can be learned from Hallyu, that is the united Korean community and government in
responding to the cultural phenomenon in their own country. They are proactive in improving the image of Korea in international view. “Actually, we can learn from the phenomenon happening in Korea,” he explained.
Suray admitted that actually Indonesia has showed unity of movement between people and government in responding to issues about Indonesia in the international community. One thing which makes the relationship between the government and community in building the image not too visible internationally is the various national problems, which finally make the focus blurred,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Dr. Novi Kussuji Indrastuti, M.Hum., one of researchers in Center for Korean Studies UGM, mentioned that Korean culture is quite interesting, because in the midst of globalization, they are still able to retain their own culture. The existing culture can even influence the life style of the youth in most countries in the world.