South Korean Popular Culture in the Global Context: Beyond the Fandom

The book explores the recent landscape of Korean popular culture, including celebrity diplomacy, political activism, and inter-Korean relations, with a special focus on K-pop and K-drama. It redefines popular culture's power beyond soft power and discusses how the pandemic and online platforms have influenced phenomena such as Hallyu diplomacy and the political significance of K-dramas. It will be a valuable resource for students and scholars of South Korea, international relations, public diplomacy, political activism, and cultural and media studies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 124 pages
Publication date: 17 August 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book delves into the dynamic landscape of Korean popular culture, encompassing a wide range of topics such as celebrity diplomacy, political activism, and inter-Korean relations in the era of 'contact. Through an interdisciplinary approach, it seeks to redefine popular culture and its immense power, beyond mere soft power. The book explores how the pandemic and the rise of online platforms have coincidentally or effectively influenced recent phenomena surrounding Korean popular culture. It sheds light on the possibilities and challenges of Hallyu diplomacy and the United Nations' celebrity diplomacy, highlighting how the modern K-pop 'standom' can influence political discourse. Additionally, the book examines the political significance of K-dramas, emphasizing their potential to impact inter-Korean relations and shape current international understanding and perception of the Korean conflict.

Spanning a broader scope of Korean popular culture, this book will be an invaluable resource for students and scholars of South Korea, international relations, public diplomacy, political activism, and cultural and media studies. It provides a deep understanding of the complex interplay between culture, politics, and society in Korea, offering insights into the evolving dynamics of the region and its global impact.

Weight: 400g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032233710