Hallyu as a Window

The Korean wave, also known as Hallyu, has proved over the recent years to be a powerful force to be recognized. It has not only touched South Koreans but people in Asian countries such as Taiwan, China, Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore and even people in non-Asian countries such as Egypt, United States, Mexico, and Iraq. The influence of Hallyu has proved to be far reaching and not the least limited.
Now, the demand for Korean dramas, movies, and music is bigger than ever. Countries that have been swept by the Hallyu wave pay thousands of dollars to have the right to a drama or movie in order to screen it on their native TV channels. Their want for Korean media seems to increase as new Korean dramas or movies are produced and the popularity of Korean Pop Culture grows. Their want can be almost extended to be called a need. This need according to Youna Kim in The rising East Asian ‘wave’ is due to heart touching emotions that are depicted in the dramas and movies that is alien or not amplified enough in other countries. For instance, in communist China where people live in a rigid society, Korean media gives them a refreshing taste of unrestricted emotions which evoke people to cry and to laugh along with the actors and actresses. Korean media also reminds people from countries such as China and North Korea of the lost aspects in their lives. China under communism lost its traditional values and watching a drama such as Jewel in the Palace, they feel a sense of nostalgia. On the other hand, people in North Korea despite tight government hands smuggle Korean dramas into the countries to enjoy watching them and have a fresh breather from their communist society.
Korea’s influence on other countries and their society seems to increase without a stop through their popular culture. However, as the numbers of Korean media infiltrating other countries get alarming high, will the governments, especially of tightly communist governed countries, stand by and watch as their citizens are influenced by such democratic ideas or take action to ensure that there is more security and regulation against Korean media coming into their country? Moreover, if the government decides to take such actions against Korean media will they find their citizens consenting and following the new regulations? It is a possibility that in the long run the citizens will fight and maybe start a new phase against communist regime for they have been given a glimpse from their walled lives to a liberal world through a window known as Hallyu.