PEOPLE AND CULTURE - Living Abroad in South Korea - page 47

serials such as Winter Sonata and Jewel in the Palace and the country's impeccably
groomed boy bands finding a ready audience throughout much of Southeast Asia,
the Middle East, and even Central America. The fad arguably reached an apex when
“Gangnam Style,” a satirical dance-pop number performed by portly Korean rapper
Psy, became one of the most watched videos on YouTube and topped charts as far off
as the United Kingdom—a feat more manicured K-pop stars have yet to manage.
Academics have come up with various hypotheses to explain the Korean craze.
Many have argued the relatively wholesome content and some of the themes ex-
plored in Korean dramas—intergenerational conflict, history, filial piety—strike a
chord with a generally conservative Asian audience; others that developing countries
like Vietnam look up to South Korea for its economic prowess, and Korean fashion
has become one way to reflect their motivational aspirations. It doesn't hurt, of
course, that K-pop tunes are catchy and most South Korean stars flawlessly sculpted
(Psy, arguably, aside).
Whatever the reasons for the wave, the government and businesses have been
quick to capitalize on it, sponsoring concerts abroad, setting up “Hallyuwood” theme
parks, and organizing tours of famous soap opera sets for groups of starstruck Asi-
an housewives. The question now is whether the wave will prove to be an en-
during trend or a brief fad. There are already signs of a backlash: Chinese and
Taiwanese broadcasters have moved to limit the amount of Korean content hitting
local airwaves, and manga (comic topics) disparaging Korean culture have appeared
in Japan.
VISUAL ARTS
South Korea is perhaps most renowned for its pottery and ceramics, characterized by their
unadorned grace and delicate glazing. The textures and themes found in Korean pottery are
echoed in traditional painting, which emphasizes bold, almost spontaneous brushstrokes,
sparing use of colors, and natural themes. Most historic works depicted landscapes or
Buddhist themes, but there was also a thriving undercurrent of folk art that was freer in its
use of color and form and dealt with more whimsical topics.
More contemporary artists have drawn inspiration from international movements such
as impressionism and surrealism as well as emerging technologies and indigenous tradition.
This fusing of creative impulses gave rise to avant-garde darlings such as painter Kim