Success without Design: Hallyu (Korean Wave) and Its Implications for Cultural Policy

Abstract

The huge popularity of Korean pop culture overseas, labeled Hallyu or Korean Wave, is an unprecedented success throughout the cultural history of Korea. Many foreign observers tend to see it as a result of the Korean government’s policy efforts. This paper claims that Hallyu in essence is an unintended “success without design.” No one including the Korean government had intentionally planned to achieve it. There were five key factors that made it possible: competitiveness of Korean cultural industries, political economic changes in East Asian countries, entrepreneurs in show business, fragmentary governmental supports, and global digital networks. Each of these factors has independently contributed in its own way to the success of Hallyu. The fact that Hallyu is not a product of any deliberate plan has some important implications for cultural policy and cultural industries.