Hallyu!

I spent a great deal of my time 2004-2009 in Korea. Even as an expat with limited understanding and appreciation for the unique expression of Korean culture films, I became very aware of their growing popularity across Asia and beyond.  

The Korea Society is the foremost and oldest non-profit private organization in the U.S. dedicated to expanding understanding of Korea. After his tour of duty in what U.S. historians typically call the Korean War, U.S. Army General Van Fleet established the Society to promote understanding and cooperation between the U.S. and Korean people. The Society has been active in recent years in promoting Korean film with the Museum of the Moving Image in New York through a large, annual film festival.

When we think of "Korea" these days, we inevitably think of something contemporary first. A good keyword to use to describe Korea would be "successful innovation,” not only in economics but also in political, cultural, and international diplomacy. “Hallyu," or the Korean Wave of fashion, style, music, and art, has become a cultural phenomenon in Asia for the last fifteen years and is beginning to take hold in the United States.  There's a growing awareness of the world of arts and design in Korea, particularly in Korean film and literature. 

One of the challenges of East Asia relations has historically been the bond between Korea and Japan. Geographically close, the two countries share an intertwined history yet have two very distinct cultures and languages, each rich and diverse. Tourism from Korea to Japan, and from Japan toward Korea has been rapidly increasing in this last decade. The Japanese are impressed by the political, economic, and industrial achievements of the last 25-30 years on the Korean peninsula. The youthful pop cultures in Japan and Korea increasingly influence American and European music, theater and arts. And that’s a good thing!