중동 언론의 한류에 대한 평가

An Evaluation of Middle Eastern Media on the Korean Wave

This study explores evaluations of Middle Eastern media on the Korean Wave through interviews with 52 journalists from seven countries such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and Israel. In doing so, the purpose of this study is to investigate favorable development strategies of the Korean Wave and revitalization of cultural exchanges between Korea and the Middle East. The research reveals that Middle Eastern media tend to have overall neutral or positive evaluation and few negative comments on the Korean Wave despite of little interests. According to the results of analysis, the reason behind the popularity of the Korean Wave is multidimensional. The successful outcome can be attributed to six factors including open culture policy of the Korean government, dedicated industrial and business efforts of the Korean culture-related corporations, superiority of contents, cultural proximity between Korea and the Middle East, development of information and technology, and fragility of cultural contents of the Middle East. The effects of the Korean Wave on the Middle Eastern society include improvement of Korean image in the region, increasing positive perception on Korea, narrowed cultural distance between Korea and the Middle East, widening world-view of young generation and expansion of bonds with different culture in the Middle East, and increasing sales of Korean products. The problems in the contents of the Korean wave can be summarized by lasciviousness, excessive westernization, incompatibility with Islamic culture, uninspired production of K-Pop by Korean music industry, and controversy of contracts with K-Pop stars. The degree of diffusion index of the Korean Wave can be said as level 2 (purchase of derivatives of the Korean Wave) of the total 4 stages (pattern of popular culture, purchase of derivatives of the Koran Wave, purchase of Korean products, preference of Korea) set by Korea Customs Service, and level 3 (recognition) of the total 5 stages (no adoption, adoption, recognition, progress, maturity) made by KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency). There are differences among the countries. The criteria of Korea Customs Service and KOTRA may categorize the 7 Middle Eastern countries as follows: "level 2-3" or the stage of "recognition-progress" for Israel, UAE and Turkey, "level 2" or the stage of "recognition" for Egypt and Iran, "level 1-2" or "adoption-recognition" for Saudi Arabia, and "level 1" or the stage of "adoption" for Iraq. Thus, it can be said that the Korean Wave have been more spread in Israel, UAE and Turkey than in Egypt and Iran. Saudi Arabia witnesses lower level of expansion than Egypt and Iran. Finally, Iraq shows the lowest level of expansion among the 7 Middle Eastern countries.