The Korean Wave from a Private Commodity to a Public Good

The title of this book, The Korean Wave: from a Private Commodity to a Public Good, refers to the idea that the Korean Wave has now crossed its nation’s borders and become an international public good. Because the Korean Wave has so far surpassed its national borders to become a subject of global attention, we consider the Korean Wave through the lenses of power, interest, identity, politicization, and the “anti-Korean wave.”

“We congratulate the editors on promoting a unique interdisciplinary perspective on popular culture and international relations, featuring contributions by both humanists and social scientists, and focusing on a hugely significant transcultural phenomenon – the Korean Wave – that originated in Asia yet spread across the globe. The questions of identity, interest, and power raised by this publication are as significant as they are innovative. I hope you, the reader, will be inspired by this collection to pursue your own inquiries and further develop the study of Korean culture in global context.”

— Michel Hockx, Director of Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies, University of Notre Dame