[HanCinema's Digest] Culture Corner

Korea Exposé wonders why plastic surgery is so popular in South Korea, the country's relationship with Islamic culture gets explored, Juwon Park talks about Korea's massive 'character business' to rival the likes of Japan's Hello Kitty, and the DPRK is sending an "army of beauties" to cheer for Korea during the upcoming Winter Games in PyeongChang.

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"How Influential Is Islam in South Korea?"

South Korea has vigorously promoted its culture in the form of the so-called 'Korean Wave' with great success, but the country has also benefitted from engaging with a wide variety of other cultures; the cultural communication and sharing flows both ways. In the present geopolitical climate that has put K-culture and Islam in direct contact, and some Koreans express concerns over, for example, the rise of halal food across the country. In this topical piece on Korea Exposé, the writer Ben Jackson considers the current state of affairs, possible points of collision, as well as the future of Islam and its followers in the Land of the Morning Calm.

...READ ON KOREA EXPOSE

"Why is Plastic Surgery So Popular in South Korea?"

It's true, "South Korea has an immense plastic surgery market", but what cultural forces led to the country's widespread acceptance of and support for plastic surgery? This cosmetic trend has also been fuelled by international interest; in 2014, Korea Expose reports, Korea's plastic surgery industry grossed $104 million, which includes Gangnam-gu's 470 independent clinics. "It is not that the procedures are inherently bad in some way", Ho Kyeong Jang concludes, "Rather, the pressure to outwardly conform and the ensuing medical, financial, and social tolls are what we should address".

...READ ON KOREA EXPOSE

"Evolution of Emoticons: Messenger Apps See Revenue Potential in Character Market"

"K-pop, K-food, K-cosmetics - these are some widely known cultural exports coming out of South Korea, riding the wave of growing interest in South Korean culture", writes Juwon Park. "Less visible are character-driven products - neither marketed nor identified explicitly as Korean - but nonetheless making an impact on the global market". In this article on Korea Exposé ("Critical / Independent / Unbound"), Juwon explores the soft power of K-culture through the evolution of emotions and iconic characters in the region. Currently, South Korea's 'character business' has grossed nearly $10 billion in revenue. Could Korea's own little penguin Pororo (a K-brand reportedly valued at around $367 million) ever reach the same popularity as Japan's Hello Kitty?

...READ ON KOREA EXPOSE

"North Korea to send 'army of beauties' cheering squad to Winter Olympics in South Korea"

When the Winter Games kick off in Pyeongchang early next month, both Koreas will be marching under the unification flag. In addition to the athletes the North will send, the DPRK is also sending, for the first time in 13 years, an "army of beauties" that, according to UCLA professor Suk-Young Kim, "will be the centrepiece of North Korea's propaganda efforts". South Korea is well known for its popular culture and love of dance routines, and it seems the North is emphasising this particular shared interest. One defector, Ahn Chan-il, now the president of the World Institute for North Korean Studies, said, "What other country would send such cheerleaders to the Olympics but North Korea?"

...READ ON THE LOS ANGELES TIMES