Abstract:
Republic of Korea (ROK) was one of the poorest countries after the Korean War.
Then the Asian Financial Crisis 1997-1999 has made the ROK’s economy
decline. At that time, Korean cultural industry became a government’s target as a
growth engine of the economy. To achieve national interest in economic
development, ROK is using culture as a soft power in influencing and attracting
international communities with the exports of Korean cultural products. ROK has
been a top exporter on electronic equipment; vehicle and steel, which is, play a
major role in the economic growth. Since the first exports of Korean dramas to
China and Taiwan, Korean cultural industry has been contributing to develop the
economy. The term of Korean wave was indicating the first boom of cultural
products in overseas. The government is heavily funding and supporting the
cultural products since it was emerged in order to double the numbers of exports
and spread the culture. Korean cultural products have strong appeal that able to
attract international communities to interest in them. Today, ROK is an advance
country with incredible economic growth.
