Aug 09, 2021 21:30:00

Why has South Korea been able to expand its international influence in many fields such as film, music and manufacturing?

South Korea has some of

the world's leading consumer electronics manufacturers such as Samsung and LG, and is expanding its influence in the international community. In addition, world-famous cultural products such as BTS of male idol groups and Korean dramas are also produced. Professor Shin Sung-ho of Seoul National University International Graduate School explains the current situation and growth factors in South Korea.

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First, Professor Songho explains Korea's position and current situation in the international community.

South Korea ranks 10th in the world GDP rankings compiled by the World Bank, behind Italy and Canada. In addition, 600,000 active duty personnel belong to the South Korean army, and in the 2021 military power ranking , it ranks fifth in the world after Japan. In addition annual defense costs and $ 46 billion (about 5 trillion yen), and more than Japan's annual defense budget forecast has been.

According to Professor Songho, the Korean manufacturing industry boasts the world's top class production in the fields of steel, automobiles, shipbuilding, semiconductors, and batteries for electric vehicles, and by 2023 in the manufacturing industry, China, the United States, Japan, and Germany. It is predicted that it will grow to the 5th place in the world following. South Korea is also actively investing in research and development to lay the world's fastest Internet service in the country.

Next, Professor Songho focuses on cultural products such as Korean K-POP, dramas, movies, and food. Released in 2019, '

Parasite Semi-Underground Family ' is the first film in a language other than English in addition to the Director's Award, Screenplay Award, and International Feature Film Award at the 92nd Academy Awards Ceremony in 2020. Won the award. BTS, a male idol group, has 18 million fans around the world, even though most of the songs are in Korean, and Butter , released in May 2021, is on the Billboard hot chart. I've been in first place for weeks. In addition, Professor Songho emphasizes that Korean dramas are familiar to Japanese people of all ages, and that web comics drawn in South Korea are also read all over the world.

Professor Sung-ho first cites the historical background of South Korea as a factor in the growing international influence of Korean industry and culture. South Korea is a country that has succeeded in transitioning from a former colony to a developed country, and 'has no history of invading or controlling other countries in modern times.' In addition, South Korea's successful transition from the traditional values of the Joseon dynasty to the democratic values of the West has become an important example of South Korea's connection between non-Western and Western nations. Professor Songho argues that this has also helped South Korea expand its international influence. 'The invitation of South Korea as a guest country to the G7 Summit in the United Kingdom in 2021 is a timely move for the G7. Freedom of speech, basic human rights, race and LGBT. Liberal values such as equality may have universal appeal when advocated by non-Western democratic countries such as South Korea, 'said the outlook for South Korea's future role in the world. Is talking about.