Kim Seong-yun et al.: Hallyu: The Formation of Cultural Capital and Cultural Nationalism

Since Korean popular culture became hugely popular in mainland China in the mid-1990s and Chinese media named the phenomenon Hallyu, or the Korean Wave, 30 years have passed. Over that history, Hallyu has evolved in many forms and on many scales. Since 2010, it has become a distinctive global brand in cultural content markets such as K-pop, Korean cinema, K-dramas, and Korean webtoons, and has since expanded into everyday lifestyle fields such as food, fashion, and beauty. Its global recognition has spread from Asia to Europe and North and South America, raising Korea’s national brand image. Its scale has also grown until it ranks among the world’s sixth- or seventh-largest cultural content markets. Domestic media have often overreported Hallyu’s historical evolution and cultural spread as proof of its greatness. But looking at the other side of Hallyu’s achievements is just as important as evaluating them positively and taking reasonable pride in them. To give Hallyu the conditions and environment it needs to continue as a new cultural dominant force, the time has come for objective and clear-eyed analysis. As we reflect on Hallyu’s 30-year history, scholarly consideration of the cultural characteristics embedded in its outward achievements and phenomena is essential.

Korean title: 한류: 문화자본과 문화내셔널리즘의 형성

Korean author: 김성윤 외

Korean publisher: 북코리아

ISBN-13: 9788963244112