The Korean Wave and Its Implications for the Korea-China Relationship

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine the phenomenon of the Korean Wave (hallyu) in China and

explore its implications for the Korea-China relationship. As a cultural phenomenon, hallyu had a

significant bearing on the perception of Korea by Chinese people. Korean TV dramas, films, and pop

music served as a special window through which Chinese audiences gained an understanding of

Korean society and formed a sense of cultural familiarity towards Korea. It also helped generate

cultural synchronization between the two countries. As an economic phenomenon, it stimulated

collaboration as well as competition between the Korean and Chinese cultural industries.

Collaboration in the production and distribution of TV shows and films continues to be widened and

diversified. Finally, hallyu served as fertile soil for cultural politics, as it was often entangled with

disputes in other realms of the Korea-China relationship, including such issues as cultural heritage,

history, and nationalism.