Globalization, Nationalism, And Regionalization: The Case of Korean Popular

Abstract

The recent globalization in Korea was forced by the 1997 economic crisis and subsequent IMF-mandated neoliberal reform, which has prompted patriotism, concern with national identity and nationalism. Nationalism has also been promoted by the 'sunshine' policy toward North Korea. The rise of nationalism has provided young Koreans with an opportunity to take a critical look at imported Western culture as well as their own indigenous culture. At the same time they have acquired more cultural capital than older Koreans and tend to consume popular culture according to their own tastes and considering its quality. The neoliberal reform has also made the Korean culture industry and cultural markets bigger and more open, so that not only Korean consumers have more choices, but also Korean cultural products become more visible in East Asian markets, creating 'Korean wave.' Other countries in this region have followed suit, and exchange of cultural products among them has surged dramatically, suggesting an East Asian Popular Culture in the Making. And it can be a possible candidate for an alternative globalization which refers to the flow from the peripheral or non-Western to the West.