Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

The present article analyzes the popularity of Winter Sonata (a South Korean television series) among Japanese audiences, especially among middle-aged women, and the impact of the accompanying hanryu phenomenon (the current fad for every aspect of South Korean popular culture) on Japanese society. Various types of primary and archival data were collected including in-depth qualitative interview surveys from 33 female Japanese viewers of Winter Sonata. The interpretive analysis of the data reveals the reasons for Winter Sonata's popularity in Japan, and how this television drama and the hanryu phenomenon have influenced Japanese perceptions of Korean residents living in Japan, South Koreans and North Koreans. In light of the troubled historical relationship between Japan and Korea (given Japan had colonized the Korean peninsula for several decades), the impact of Winter Sonata and the hanryu phenomenon is especially noteworthy.

Keywords

hanryu (Korean wave)interpretive analysis Japanese audience social influence South Korea television drama Winter Sonata

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Chung, D. (1995) The Image of South Korea. Tokyo : Chuko Shinsho.

Dator, J. and Y. Seo (2004) `Korea as the Wave of a Future: The Emerging Dream Society of Icons and Aesthetic Experience', Journal of Futures Studies 9(1): 31—44.

Demick, B. (2005) `South Korean Actor Drives up Heart Rates and Sales in Japan: The Star of a Popular Soap Opera Has Become a One-Man Franchise That's Worth Billions', Los Angeles Times 2 November: A4.

Dudden, A. (2005) Japan's Colonization of Korea: Discourse and Power . Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.

Endo, F. and A. Matsumoto (2004) `Currents: TV Dramas Melt Hearts, Thaw Japan—ROK Relations', The Daily Yomiuri 5 December: 1.

Hirama, Y. and Y. Sugita (2003) Kitachosen wo meguru hokutou asia no kokusaikankei to nihon [The International Relations in Northeast Asia Surrounding North Korea and Japan]. Tokyo: Akashi shoten.

Kim, D. ( 2006) `Transcending Borders: Korean Soap Opera, Winter Sonata, Effects on Japanese Middle-Aged Women', paper presented to the 56th annual convention of the International Communication Association , Dresden, Germany, June.

Murakami, M. (2004) `Middle-Aged Love Affair', South China Morning Post 24 April: 15.

Oberdorfer, D. (2001) The Two Koreas: A Contemporary History. New York: Basic Books.

10.

Onishi, N. (2004) `Korean Star Captures Fancy of Japan's Women', International Herald Tribune 16 December: A1.

11.

Onishi, N. (2005a) `Roll Over, Godzilla: Korean Rules', The New York Times 28 June: A3.

12.

Onishi, N. (2005b) `Ugly Images of Asian Rivals Become Best Sellers in Japan', The New York Times 19 November: A1.

13.

Patton, M.Q. (2002) Qualitative Research and Evaluation Methods, 3rd edn. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

14.

Penn, W. (2004) `Televiews: S. Korea Scores Another Winner', The Daily Yomiuri 7 October: 19.

15.

Seo, J.-E. (2005) `Pop Culture Makes Korea Shine in Asia', Joong Ang Daily 20 October: 1.

16.

Singhal, A. and K. Udornpim (1997) `Cultural Shareability, Archetypes and Television Soaps: “Oshindrome ” in Thailand', Gazette 59: 171—88.

17.

` To Keep “Hallyu” Going' (2005) The Korea Herald 12 January: 6.

18.

` Travel Agencies Cashing in on Weepy Melodramas' (2004) The Daily Yomiuri 10 November: 4.

19.

Tsukahara, M. (2004) `Popularity of South Korean Dramas Surges in Addition to the Huge Hit Drama Winter Sonata on its Terrestrial Network, NHK', The Daily Yomiuri 3 June: 13.

20.

Udornpim, K. and A. Singhal (1999) `Oshin, a Pro-Social Media Role-Model, in Thailand', Keio Communication Review 21: 3—21.

21.

Victoria, J. (2005) `How Korea Became Cool', New Statesman 7 March: 16.

22.

` War Torn: Soap Opera Resonates with Elderly Japanese Women' ( 2004) Wall Street Journal 15 September: 3A.

23.

Wiseman, P. (2004) `Korean Romantic Hero Holds Japan in Thrall: Frenzy over Heartthrob Symbolizes Changing Relations between Peoples', USA Today 10 December: 13A.

24.

Yong-sung, L. (2005) `Is It All Over Already? Gloomy Signs Overshadow Rosy Statistics of “Hallyu”', The Korea Herald 11 July: 16.

25.

Yoshida, S. (2004) `Korean, Chinese Languages Expanding in High Schools ', The Daily Yomiuri 23 November: 16.

Hanryu Sweeps East Asia

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References