Earn Sirijongkolthong 5861031

Impacts of Korea on Thai Culture

A wave of enthusiasm for South Korean pop culture thats sweeping Asia (Lim, n.d.). In

the recent decades, Korean pop culturesmusic, drama, foodhave spread around Asia. They

started when Korea have coined in China around mid-1999 by Beijing journalists, then, its

culture expanded to Japan and Taiwan before coming to South East Asia, especially, Thailand.

HallyuKorean Waveis described as the increase popularity of South Korean cultures in

many fields such as TV dramas, musics ,and tourisms. Definitely, Hallyu has widely effected

Thai culture and peoples life not only on entertainment but also economics and thoughts.

Over 600 years ago, the relationship between Thailand and Korea started since King

Ramesuan Ayutthaya Kingdom had contact with King Pyongyang of Korea. Importantly, in 1950,

Korean War happened ,and Thailand was one of the first countries who responded to United

Nations requests to send troops and to aid South Korea. Rice, warships, and aircrafts were

sent to South Korea during the war ,also Arirang a famous , well-known, song which has many

etymologies. This song starts from describing about traveling along mountain pass called

Arirang which was the significant gorge in Joseon Dynasty ,also it describes true love between

Thai soldier and Korean girl while they were fighting against communist during Korean War.

Significantly, it has a role as South Koreas unofficial national anthem. After the war, Thailand

and South Korea have good relationship with each other, and they celebrated 50 years of their

relationship in 2006.

It can be seen that Korean Wave in Thailand initially comes from entertainment such as

TV series and musics. First if all, a famous Korean drama in 2006, Dae Jung Gum is one of the

important gateways to Hallyu. The reasons why its drama is so popular in Thailand are because
 Earn Sirijongkolthong 5861031

it is most wildly accessible that many Thai people can buy affordable copied DVD from the

locals market, also, a Thai TV broadcaster which is Thai channel 3 bought a license to

broadcast this drama which made most of people in the country be able to watch it ,and this

drama really hit the market ,so it made the broadcaster got about 184% profit (Ainsel, 2016).

Moreover, from this drama, it creates Krasae-Gaoli , which changed Thai attitudes toward

South Korea. In this case, people started interested in Korean products, services ,and food.

From this success, more and more Korean dramas have entered to Thailand in 2007. For

instance, Autumn in My Heart, My Sassy Girl ,and the latest one, Descendant of the Sun. In this

case, there are some public opinions about the reasons why they choose to watch Korean

dramas rather than Thai dramas, and most of them said that they are because most of Korean

dramas have unique plot. For instance, one of the famous dramas in 2016, W, Cardiothoracic

surgeon Oh Yeon-joo's father mysteriously went missing while writing the last chapter of his

webtoon "W". Yeon-joo goes to his office and is shocked to see a scene of the dying Kang

Cheol , the main character of W, on her father's computer. While reading a note left behind by

her father, a hand from the monitor pulled her in and she finds herself on the rooftop of a

building next to a bleeding man. She manages to save him and realizes that the person she

saved was Kang Cheol. Yeon-joo later discovers that she can only leave the webtoon based on

Kang Cheol's change in feelings. When that happens, the words 'to be continued' will appear

and Yeon-joo will teleport back to the real world. The production looks professional, and the

actors and actresses act better than Thais.

Furthermore, the effect of the dramas creates the division of people among different

economical situation in Thailand which are urban and rural area. The entrepreneurs understand

the division of Thai cultural products for lower class and upper class which leads to the different

view of products for different audiences. Actually, Korean drama attaches urban sphere. As the

researcher said earlier, Korean dramas are more realistic, high quality ,and not dull.
 Earn Sirijongkolthong 5861031

Therefore, Korean drama seem to be automatically attached to the urban sphere. In another

example, a Bangkokian fan said about groups of audiences, People who can watch Korean

series are those that need the internet or television. This group is also more educated, more

money, and tends to be middle class. People who watch Thai soap opera are country people.

They live outside the city;they dont have the internet or cant afford it (F, 2012). From her

statement, it can be seen that there are two classes of people. Because usually to watch

Korean series, they have to have the internet that has fan pages on various websites which

translate and make the subtitle,and those usually be urban citizen or middle class, in contrast, in

the rural area, people usually cannot afford the internet ,so it is hard for them to access to the

series.

After Korean entertainment starts having more influence in Thai cultures, it creates a

trend of foodstuff. In the past 20 years, Korean food has become famous in Bangkok which can

be seen that there are new Korean restaurant opened every month. Also, the owner of the

restaurant usually be Korean who can serve traditional Korean food. For example, Arirang

calling themselves A bite of Korea in Bangkok. It serves an authentic Korean experience such

as when the customers walk in the restaurant, they can see the waitresses dress in Hanbok and

speak Korean. Also, some of well known Korean food such as bibimbab, a bowl of warm rice

with vegetables and meat, and duk galbi, stir fried marinated diced chicken in a spicy sauce are

usually ordered by people. From the interview, the researcher has asked people at a Korean

restaurant in The Mall Bangkae about why they choose to eat at Korean restaurant. One of the

reasons is that because they watched Korean drama and they saw the main characters ate

Korean food so that they want to have it too. Another one is that because it is delicious.

Moreover, nowadays, Korean dessert cafe is popular among Thai teenagers. Sulbing is a

franchise Korean traditional sweet cafe which sales a big bowl of shaved ice with various
 Earn Sirijongkolthong 5861031

toppings such as fresh strawberry, banana, and mango that is extremely appetizing. In Thailand,

there are 15 branches of Sulbing in Thailand, not only in Bangkok but also in Chiang Mai,

Korad, and Chonburi, also, it aims to open 50 more branches in the future. Thus, it can be seen

that in 10 years, Korea has expanded much popularity in Thailand.

Korean wave has wildly effects in Thai and Korean economics. For South Korea, it has

economic benefits through increased tourism, television revenue, and higher status of culture

throughout East Asia. For Thailand, it is a by-product. Most of the product developments are

supported by South Korean government, whose strategy is to strengthen every industry in term

of exporting. Products of entertainment is an important factor which to promote the country.

South Korea full supports on music, film ,and TV industries. Also, as the researcher said earlier,

the broadcaster of Dae Jung Gum got about 184% profit which can be seen that Korean

entertainment has helped Thailand to expand its economy. It is clear from the study that Korean

cultural products have led to complex impact on Thai consumer ,also people starts accepting

Koreaness such as cultures into their environment by its products. In 2017, some Thai

companies are using Korean pop singers as bran presenters such as Masita, seaweed snack

company, has been using NCT, a famous boy band from SM Entertainment, to promote the

products which make this business receives more profits.

In conclusion, Korean wave has wildly effect on Thai culture, peoples attitude, and

economic. Especially, its high quality entertainment products such as TV dramas and musics

which keep expanding in Thai cultures ,throughout East Asia. Also, it does have benefit on both

South Korea and Thailand economy. Therefore, I hope that Thailand and South Korea will keep

maintaining this relationship with each other which will be good for both countries.
 Earn Sirijongkolthong 5861031

References

Louisa Lim. (n.d.). South Korean Culture Wave Spreads Across Asia. Retrieved from

http://www.npr.org/s.php?sId=5300970&m=1

Damrong Thandee. (2005, November 21). Second Korean waves in Thailand. Retrieved from

http://www3.ru.ac.th/korea/korean_wave_th/kwave2.pdf

Duong Nguyen Hoai Phuang. (n.d.). Korean Wave as Cultural Imperialism. Retrieved from

https://openaccess.leidenuniv.nl/bitstream/handle/1887/37300/

Phuong_thesis_1.docx.pdf?sequence=1

Mary J. Ainsel. (2016, April 1). K-Drama across Thailand: Constructions of Koreaness and

Thainess by contemporary Thai consumers. Retrieved from http://apjjf.org/2016/07/

Ainslie.html

Tasty Thailand. (2011, April 24). Best Korean Restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand. Retrieved from

http://tastythailand.com/best-korean-restaurants-in-bangkok-thailand

Thai Music Inventory. (n.d.). The Korean Wave in Thailand. Retrieved from http://

www.thaimusicinventory.org/the%20korean%20wave%20in%20thailand.html