The Korean Wave Popularity of South Korean Popular culture

ENTERTAINING MORE THAN HALF OF THE WORLD The Korean wave refers to the popularity of South Korean popular culture in other countries and is otherwise known as "Hallyu", from the Korean pronunciation. The term was coined in China in 2001 by Beijing journalists startled by the growing popularity of South Koreans and South Korean goods in China. The Korean wave began with the export of Korean TV dramas such as Jewel in the Palace and Winter Sonata across East and Southeast Asia; the growing success of Korean drama was shortly matched in the fields of movies and popular music. The phenomenon does not extend to North Korean shows or movies, which do not currently enjoy the same popularity.

Korean Entertainment Phenomenon Captures Worldwide Attention

You’ve heard about it…you’ve read about – and if you’ve traveled practically anywhere in Asia, you’ve seen it for yourself. The media has dubbed it

THE KOREN WAVE – and a wave is it…a wave of exciting entertainment…a wave of stars that are making heart swoon everywhere…a wave of enticing stories that are captivating imaginations of audiences far outside the borders of it’s country of origin

Let’s take a look at a real phenomenon in entertainment…the KOREAN WAVER!

Korean Wave in Film
The Korean domestic film industry has been a driving force behind the Wave…Two recent releases – ‘Silmido’ and ‘Tae Guk Gi’ – recorded well over 11 Million domestic viewers in 2004, ranking them among the most successful films in South Korean movie history. Korean films such as ‘Old Boy’, ’Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter…and Spring’ have received international accolades for their outstanding film craft and creative story telling, In2004,a total of 194 Korean films were exported ti 62 countries worldwide, grossing over US$6000-million in revenue.

The result – The Korean film industry is attracting an ever-increasing amount of international investment.
The Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF),based in the historic port city of Pusan, is the largest annual film festival in Asia and has been dubbed the “Cannes if Asia”.
In 2005, the festival celebrated its 10^th

Anniversary, showcasing 307 movies from 7. countries with 192,000 movie-goers from around the world in attendance. On the first day of on-line ticket sales, 20 films sold-out in a matter of hours.

The festival’s Pusan Promotion Plan(PPP) has emerged as the leading facilitator for joint Asian movie productions, mediating some 80 joint movie projects between producers from Korea, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand and the U.S.

An increasing number of Korean Films and directors are gaining popularity worldwide and sweeping awards from film festivals around the world.

Here is a partial list:
Park Chan-wook 2004 Cannes film Festival, Grand Prix to ‘Old Boy’ 2005 Venice International Film Festival Cine Of The Future,Young Lion Award, Best Innovated Film Award to ‘Sympathy for Lady Vengeance’.

Ryoo Seung-wan:
2005 New York Asia Film Festival, Audience Award to ‘Crying Fist’ 2005 Cannes Film Festival, FIPRESCI Prize to ‘Crying Fist’.

Kim Ki-duk:
2004 ‘Vladivostok International Film Festival, Grand Prix for Best Feature to ‘Spring Summer Fall Winter…and Spring’ 2004 Berlin International Film Festival, Silver Bear of Best Director to ‘Samaria’ 2004 Venice International Film Festival, Silver

by Kocca.or.kr