one-way street

http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200504/kt2005042117374410440.htm

One of the biggest criticisms on Hallyu is based on economics. In Sung Kim's essay on Hallyu and an article that I found both suggest that the "one-way" culture of this wave as one of the sources of the Korean wave backlash. This accusation that Korean production companies are only interested in making money rather than engaging in a cultural exchange seems unfair. The companies are companies. They are the machines that propel capitalism, they stay in business by making profit. Their primary goal is to compete in the global market. Sure, the promotion of one's culture can tag along as the companies try to lure audience into their "product" -- Korean dramas and celebrities. However, the fact that the critics are blaming these tycoons for making the Korean Wave too economically driven seems like finding a scapegoat.

Yes, capitalism has been seen as the whore of the city of Babylon along with industrialization and whatever challenges conservative values. If capitalism is guilty of everything, why pursue? Because communism only works in theory. People are greedy, they are out to make profit, and step above everyone else. There is no doubt that people engage in humanitarian causes, but altruism is not a natural phenomenon. I'm not suggesting that everyone's corrupt and insincere. That's not the piont here. What I'm suggesting is that economic exchange should not be the core of one's argument in criticizing the possible pitfall of the Korean Wave. Who isn't out there to make monkey, seriously?

If Hallyu started as Sung Kim's paper suggests, then it makes a whole lot of sense to put emphasis on the economic issues. Besides the economics, the heavy involvement of the Korean government has surfaced as one of the criticisms. What I don't understand is why wouldn't the government step in? If the government officials saw possible opportunities to generate revenue to robust the country's economy, why would that deserve such harsh criticism? Sure, the government's overt reaction might have been a shock to foreign countries. It should have been more sensitive to other countries' government's needs. However, this was an unprecedented phenomenon. It should be allowed to make mistakes and learn from them.

Although the thrust of the Korean Wave seems to have subsided, that should not dismiss Korean Wave as a ephemeral phenomenon. The possibility of resurgence remains as the producers of these shows venture out into different areas such as Southeast Asian countries.