SAM KIM

US ASIA JOURNAL

The spark of the territorial dispute between China and Vietnam in the South China Sea has spread to the Korean idol group Black Pink. This is because Black Pink’s Vietnamese concert organizer defended the existence of the “Nine Dash Line” in the South China Sea, which China unilaterally claims and Vietnam opposes. A diplomatic official said, “In Korea, the host company of famous foreign singers in Korea marked the East Sea as Sea of Japan or said Dokdo as Takeshima,” adding, “It touched the most sensitive part of Vietnamese people.” Public opinion in Vietnam is raging and the government has begun an investigation. “Patriotism is more important” Fans are also angry, and if Vietnam’s social networking service (SNS) is combined, voices are growing that they will boycott the performance ahead of the first Black Pink concert in Hanoi on the 29th and 30th of this month. The beginning is an image posted on the website of iME Entertainment, the organizer of the BLACKPINK World Tour and Asia’s largest performance agency based in China.The problem was that there was a map showing nine virtual maritime border “South Sea Gudan Line” arbitrarily drawn by China to claim sovereignty over the South China Sea. China claims that the area is owned by China in the name of managing an island in the South China Sea during the Han Dynasty 2,000 years ago. According to them, 90% of the entire waters in the South China Sea will be Chinese territorial waters.These include Vietnam’s Hoangsa Islands (Chinese name Sisa Islands) and Splatley Islands (Chinese name Nansha Islands), as well as most of the Southeast Asian countries where China competes for sovereignty. The International Permanent Court of Arbitration concluded in 2016 that the Namhae District Line was groundless under international law, but China has not budged on its claim so far.Vietnam was outraged.

This is because the controversy was viewed as an “infringement of maritime sovereignty.” “If you look at BLACKPINK’s performance, it can be seen as supporting the plan to invade China,” Facebook said. It is argued that he should not go to the concert. BLACKPINK fans also turned their backs. Fans said, “BLACKPINK is good, but patriotism is more important. “I canceled my ticket reservation because I love my country,” he said, joining the boycott. Tickets for the concert were expected to be sold out for 10 minutes, but seats remain until the 9th, the second day of sales. There are also many posts on social media that say they want to resell tickets”You touch the most sensitive part of Vietnamese people”
The Vietnamese government, which is determined to deal with the issue of the Namhae-gu Danseon, has also taken a quick response. The Ministry of Culture has launched an investigation into the iME website.

Asked if the concert could be canceled, Foreign Ministry spokesman Palm Tohang declined to say, “The government is investigating the issue,” but added, “Vietnam has clarified its thoughts on the Namhae Gudan Line.” Promoting and using publications and products related to this is not allowed, he stressed.On iME Vietnam’s Facebook page, articles criticizing the posting of an image of defending the Namhae Gudan Line on the iME headquarters’ website are continuing. Given Vietnam’s precedent of suspending the broadcast of movies and dramas one after another due to the issue of the Namhae-gu Danseon, the controversy is expected to continue for the time being. The Vietnamese Ministry of Culture blocked the screening in Vietnam on the 3rd of this month because a map showing the Namhae Gudan Line was shown in the U.S. Warner Bros. film “Barbie.” In March this year, the movie “Uncharted” was also banned for the same reason, and the service of the Netflix drama “Fine Gap” was suspended in 2021.In 2019, the DreamWorks animation “About Possible” was suspended 10 days after its release due to controversy over the Namhae-gu Danseon, and Vietnam reprimanded the person in charge for poor deliberation and fined 170 million dong (about 9.37 million won) to the distributor. This is why some predict that BLACKPINK’s concert will not be easy to move on quietly. iME apologized belatedly. Brian Chow, CEO of iME, said, “We will replace the image that is not appropriate for the Vietnamese,” adding, “We respect the sovereignty and culture of all countries.” Currently, related photos have been deleted from the website.

EJ SONG

US ASIA JOURNAL

new study found that a protein-rich, low-calorie diet “prevents bone density and muscle mass loss” could help obese seniors lose weight while maintaining muscle mass and increasing bone density.Losing weight by an older person creates several problems. Loss of bone density and muscle mass can cause mobility problems and increase the risk of injury.Researchers at Wake Forest University in the U.S. argued that high-protein and low-calorie diets help older people avoid these problems. The researchers randomly selected 96 adults aged 65 or older and assigned them to one of the two groups.The researchers assigned Group 1 to a six-month low-calorie meal with more than 1g of protein per kg of weight, and Group 2 to a meal containing 0.8g of protein per kg of weight.As a result, Group 1 maintained muscle mass, although it lost the most weight. In addition, the weight of the abdomen, hips, thighs, and hips, which can reduce risks such as diabetes and stroke, has been reduced.

It also improved bone quality and scored 0.75 points, an excellent grade in the health aging index score.Older people’s muscle mass can naturally decrease, and although they don’t burn calories at the same rate as they did in their youth, nutritious food is essential.Beneficial foods include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, and low-fat dairy products.The researchers said, “A high-protein and low-calorie diet can give health benefits to the elderly when they lose weight and allow them to maintain the muscles and bones they need to improve their quality of life.” If so, can you take the necessary nutrients if you eat a variety of foods? Let me introduce Gaon & Co., Ltd.’s Lavalance, which connects you with a simpler texture and taste. High protein is extracted from soybeans as a snack type.This technology is patent-registered and not only consists of various products in stacks, cookies, and cereal types, but it also always adds the texture and taste that protein products lack. There are natural fruit, vegetable, and spicy flavors, and experts participate in the balance of nutrients to create the best combination of products.

▲Gaon N

▲Labalance

▲Kang Bong Soo

▲www.gaonn.net

▲cs@gaonn.net

H.S HA

US ASIA JOURNAL

The spark of the territorial dispute between China and Vietnam in the South China Sea has spread to the Korean idol group Black Pink. This is because Black Pink’s Vietnamese concert organizer defended the existence of the “Nine Dash Line” in the South China Sea, which China unilaterally claims and Vietnam opposes. A diplomatic official said, “In Korea, the host company of famous foreign singers in Korea marked the East Sea as Sea of Japan or said Dokdo as Takeshima,” adding, “It touched the most sensitive part of Vietnamese people.” Public opinion in Vietnam is raging and the government has begun an investigation. “Patriotism is more important” Fans are also angry, and if Vietnam’s social networking service (SNS) is combined, voices are growing that they will boycott the performance ahead of the first Black Pink concert in Hanoi on the 29th and 30th of this month. The beginning is an image posted on the website of iME Entertainment, the organizer of the BLACKPINK World Tour and Asia’s largest performance agency based in China.The problem was that there was a map showing nine virtual maritime border “South Sea Gudan Line” arbitrarily drawn by China to claim sovereignty over the South China Sea. China claims that the area is owned by China in the name of managing an island in the South China Sea during the Han Dynasty 2,000 years ago. According to them, 90% of the entire waters in the South China Sea will be Chinese territorial waters.These include Vietnam’s Hoangsa Islands (Chinese name Sisa Islands) and Splatley Islands (Chinese name Nansha Islands), as well as most of the Southeast Asian countries where China competes for sovereignty. The International Permanent Court of Arbitration concluded in 2016 that the Namhae District Line was groundless under international law, but China has not budged on its claim so far.Vietnam was outraged.

This is because the controversy was viewed as an “infringement of maritime sovereignty.” “If you look at BLACKPINK’s performance, it can be seen as supporting the plan to invade China,” Facebook said. It is argued that he should not go to the concert. BLACKPINK fans also turned their backs. Fans said, “BLACKPINK is good, but patriotism is more important. “I canceled my ticket reservation because I love my country,” he said, joining the boycott. Tickets for the concert were expected to be sold out for 10 minutes, but seats remain until the 9th, the second day of sales. There are also many posts on social media that say they want to resell tickets”You touch the most sensitive part of Vietnamese people”
The Vietnamese government, which is determined to deal with the issue of the Namhae-gu Danseon, has also taken a quick response. The Ministry of Culture has launched an investigation into the iME website.

Asked if the concert could be canceled, Foreign Ministry spokesman Palm Tohang declined to say, “The government is investigating the issue,” but added, “Vietnam has clarified its thoughts on the Namhae Gudan Line.” Promoting and using publications and products related to this is not allowed, he stressed.On iME Vietnam’s Facebook page, articles criticizing the posting of an image of defending the Namhae Gudan Line on the iME headquarters’ website are continuing. Given Vietnam’s precedent of suspending the broadcast of movies and dramas one after another due to the issue of the Namhae-gu Danseon, the controversy is expected to continue for the time being. The Vietnamese Ministry of Culture blocked the screening in Vietnam on the 3rd of this month because a map showing the Namhae Gudan Line was shown in the U.S. Warner Bros. film “Barbie.” In March this year, the movie “Uncharted” was also banned for the same reason, and the service of the Netflix drama “Fine Gap” was suspended in 2021.In 2019, the DreamWorks animation “About Possible” was suspended 10 days after its release due to controversy over the Namhae-gu Danseon, and Vietnam reprimanded the person in charge for poor deliberation and fined 170 million dong (about 9.37 million won) to the distributor. This is why some predict that BLACKPINK’s concert will not be easy to move on quietly. iME apologized belatedly. Brian Chow, CEO of iME, said, “We will replace the image that is not appropriate for the Vietnamese,” adding, “We respect the sovereignty and culture of all countries.” Currently, related photos have been deleted from the website.

EJ SONG

US ASIA JOURNAL

[photo: ATTRACT]

The four-member new girl group Fifty Fifty is showing rapid growth on the global stage. On the Billboard singles chart on April 1, Fifty’s “Cupid” entered the top 100. On April 8, it ranked 94th. Fifty Fifty’s debut date is November 18, 2022. It is a miracle that it has been only four months since its debut. Billboard’s “Hot 100″ is not a local chart. It took six months to break Newzins’ previous record and write a new history. In addition, it is predicted that it could continue to rise on the Billboard Hot 100. Not only that. In Spotify dated April 6, 2023, Fifty Fifty ranked 15th globally for daily top songs, featuring K-pop artists such as 14th place Jisoo and 16th place Jimin. It was also ranked 19th in the third week of the weekly top song. In addition, “Cupid” by Fifty Fifty also ranked 61st on the UK official chart. The fact that it rose to 61st place on the UK’s official single chart TOP100, which is famous for being conservative, can be said that the artist and song were connected worldwide. Idols going to the global stage in Korea are led by large planning and production companies such as SM, YG, JYP, and Hive. The production of Fifty Fifty is Attract (CEO Jeon Hong-joon), a very small company. Attract is a new corporation affiliated with only the girl group Fifty Fifty. However, Jeon Hong-joon, who has long experience in producing various music since World Music in the past, overcame the disadvantages of small and medium-sized agencies and focused only on good music. Four of the more than 300 songs were selected, including “Tell Me,” “Lovin’ Me,” “Higher,” and “Login,” and included in the debut album “The Fifty.” Among them, Swedish composer Adam von Mencher, who composed “Lovin’ me,” even composed “Cupid,” which resulted in a global response. He developed the music by discussing with the members such as Kina, Saena, Shio, and Aran for several hours every day. ‘Cupid’ has also begun to appear in videos of short-form platform TikTokers. As a result, Grammy was nominated as a notable K-pop girl group. The expectation that Fifty Fifty could run for a long time on Billboard in the future is based on that. Currently, Fifty Fifty continues to appear in New York Times Square and LA’s large outdoor advertisements as YouTube shorts content. Even with this achievement, I am proud as a new girl group. I don’t think they’re going to be stars. Sio and Aran’s main vocals are stable, but they save all four, including Saena and Kina and rap and vocals. When you listen to the song while watching the music video of “Cupid,” the fatigue escapes and adds freshness to the spot. Fifty Fifty is creating their own color with the variety of four people. They are studying not only Korean seniors and juniors, but also the music of Anglo-American pop artists such as Doja Cat, Sam Smith, and Troy Sivan.

Doug Hwang
Staff Writer

[photo: starship entertainment]

IVE(An Yujin, Gaeul, Rei, Jang Wonyoung, Liz and Leeseo ), the main character of the “4th generation girl group,” returned with his first full-length album “I’ve IVE.” The album is said to show IVE’s identity well. IVE, who made debut in the music industry in December 2021, won first place on TV music programs seven days after debut with “ELEVEN,” and has since become a leader in the fourth-generation girl group with four consecutive mega-hit songs, including “LOVE DIVE” and “After LIKE.” They also wrote a record of winning the grand prize at various year-end award ceremonies last year. With just three single albums, they sold more than 3 million copies in cumulative sales and won 37 gold medals in music programs. IVE’s leader Ahn Yujin said at a recent press conference for her new album in Seoul, “Based on the self-love and pride that comes to mind when she thinks of IVE, she has 11 new songs with the intention of not being afraid of rising and falling, and even enjoying this.”IVE’s first full-length album included a total of 11 songs, including songs that the members directly participated in writing lyrics and rap making. “In the case of the narcissistic worldview, if my previous album contained myself as a subject in love, this time I expressed my subjectivity in life, not love,” Gaeul said. The title song “IAM” is a song about the attitude of “subjective life” to be sure on my way. Jang Won-young said about the song, “It contains the content of discovering myself different from yesterday. You can meet unique and addictive melodies and IVE’s explosive singing skills,” she said. As it contains IVE’s “identity,” the lyrics cannot be left out. It is the work of famous lyricist Kim E-na. The music video captures the performance and appearance of the colorful IVE. Gaeul said, “I use the expression up and down a lot in my life, and I also included a message in the music video to enjoy my life proudly without losing to the ups and downs of my daily life.” There are especially many members participating in this album. Ahn Yu-jin and Jang Won-young worked on three solo songs, while Gaeul and Rei worked on four rap songs, including “Kichi.” The members’ names were listed on the credits of seven of the 11 songs from their first full-length album. Gaeul and Rei showed their musical abilities through “Kitche,” “Hypnosis,” “NOT YOUR GIRL,” and “Next Page.” Gaeul said, “We wrote the lyrics focusing on showing our own freedom and confidence.” “Heroine” is a song that harmonizes the harmony of the members and their unique tones. Ahn Yu-jin participated in the lyrics and said, “I worked as if I were writing a diary with the idea of containing what I really wanted to say,” adding, “Just as the main character in the movie overcomes the trials, it contains a message to overcome the trials and hardships he faces in his or her life.” Jang Won-young participated in writing the lyrics for “Mine.” Jang said, “I drew the etiquette of a confident and bold girl. Shine with me, which was posted on the last track, is also the first fan song of IVE written by Jang Won-young. It’s a song that the youngest Leeseo picks as her “favorite song.” Jang said, “It’s a song full of sincere affection for the dive. IVE’s full-length album also featured star lyricists. Led by Kim E-na, lyricist Seo Ji-eum, who built Ive’s narcissistic worldview, participated in “Blue Blood,” while Isran, who expressed confident “IVEness,” helped “Kitche” and “Cherish.” Seo Jung-ah, Hwang Hyun (MonoTree), and Exy of WJSN also started supporting fire.IVE’s appearance was more of a “syndrom” last year. IVE’s past moves are evidenced by various achievements. As for IVE’s strengths, IVE described it as “unique in familiarity.” “I think it’s the power of IVE music that showed a variety of genres that are not limited to one thing and a variety of voices in each song,” Liz said. It is a worldview born of thorough planning, but each member has a confident confidence that matches the worldview.

Doug Hwang
Staff Writer

[photo: NAVER's V live]

K-pop, short for Korean pop music, has been a global phenomenon for the past decade, and its impact on South Korea’s economy has been significant. K-pop has become a major cultural export for the country, with its popularity driving tourism, merchandise sales, and increasing the demand for Korean language education. K-pop has been an important driver of South Korea’s soft power, which is the ability to influence other countries through culture and ideas, as well as economic and political means. The genre has helped to raise the profile of South Korea internationally, increasing awareness of its culture and unique attributes, and boosting its appeal as a tourist destination. One of the most visible economic effects of K-pop on South Korea has been on the tourism industry. Many K-pop fans from around the world visit the country to see their favorite artists perform live or visit the places where they filmed music videos. According to the Korean Tourism Organization, the number of foreign tourists visiting South Korea has increased steadily since 2010, and the growth is partially attributed to the popularity of K-pop. The influx of visitors has contributed significantly to the country’s economy, with the tourism industry accounting for about 7% of South Korea’s GDP. The popularity of K-pop has also had a significant impact on the country’s entertainment industry, which has grown rapidly in recent years. K-pop agencies, such as SM Entertainment, YG Entertainment, and JYP Entertainment, have become major players in the global music industry, earning millions of dollars in revenue each year from music sales, concerts, and merchandise. The industry has also created numerous jobs, from music producers and choreographers to marketing and promotion specialists. Another economic effect of K-pop on South Korea is the increased demand for Korean language education. Many K-pop fans around the world are interested in learning Korean so they can understand the lyrics of their favorite songs and communicate with other fans. This has led to a surge in demand for Korean language courses, both in South Korea and abroad. According to the Korean Language Education Center, the number of foreign students studying Korean in South Korea has increased from around 11,000 in 2007 to over 150,000 in 2019. K-pop has had a significant impact on South Korea’s economy, driving tourism, increasing the demand for Korean language education, and contributing to the growth of the country’s entertainment industry. With the global popularity of K-pop continuing to rise, it is likely that its economic effects will continue to be felt for years to come.

*This article was first produced by the Asia Journal by CHAT GPT.

It’s retro again. The old stars of pop songs, which passed through the late 1980s and 1990s, will reunite to hold a joint concert. So-called ‘Korea’s Jang Guk-young’ singer Cho Jung-hyun, who led the heyday of Korean ballads in the early 1990s with hits such as “Love Even That Pain” and “Sad Sea,” Lee Chi-heon and his friends, Lee Myung-hoon and Fevers, Kwak Jong-mok and Geon-ahs, and Kim Hak-rae will hold an emotional joint concert under the title of “Back to the Radio.” The Wonju Chiak Art Center will hold three performances for two days on May 26 and 27. The title “Back to the Radio” was based on the heyday of radio in the 1990s, when popular music was enjoyed on radio, as a symbol of retro. The fact that the stage of the movie “Radio Star,” starring Park Joong-hoon and Ahn Sung-ki, is Wonju, where the concert is located, also worked. Cho Jung-hyun hosts and plays his songs, “Love Even That Pain,” and “Sad Sea.” Lee Chi-heon and his friends are signature band that sing the emotions of the 80s and 90s with many hit songs such as “Gypsy Woman” and “Only You.” Lee Myung Hoon and Fevers won the Popularity Award through the Beach song festival and gained popularity as a band representing university songs.

It tells hit songs such as “Just Like That” and episodes from that time. Geon-ahs sang “Young Smile” and won a series of prizes at the Gangbyeon(Riverside) Song Festival in 1979 and the Youth Song Festival in 1980. Kwak is a member of the 2nd and 3rd generation of Geon-ahs. Kim Hak-rae debuted as a solo artist after singing “I” with Lim Chul-woo as a duet at the MBC University Song Festival in 1979, making hit songs such as “Heart of Sadness,” “Winter Sea” and “My God.” Cho Jung-hyun, who is also the CEO of Booming Studio, said, “I will sing the brilliant songs of my youth with emotions, reminiscing about the days when I was immersed in thought listening to music on the radio, excited by the DJ’s voice on the radio, and wept over the stories on the radio.

Doug Hwang
Staff Writer

Let me introduce infomining Co., Ltd., a company that studies human health and happiness.

In order to make life more convenient and enjoyable, we will become a global smart healthcare company that provides the best healthcare services by researching and developing human-centered and innovative technologies.Although there are many difficulties and difficulties to overcome as a venture company, we will continue to develop and strive to realize transparent management and sustainable management by taking advantage of the crisis as an opportunity.By doing so, we will become a more prestigious and competitive company, and with continued efforts, we will become a global smart healthcare leading company that provides the best health care to our customers, aiming to become one of the top 10 innovative unicorn companies in 2025.This is the slurgeon of infomining.As a large Korean hospital currently being promoted, Yonsei Medical Center will push for a project to “build a customized whole-cycle management model for MZ generation mothers” based on digital solutions.This project is supported by the “2022 Smart Hospital Leading Model Development Support Project” organized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Health Industry Promotion Agency. Professor Kim Yong-wook, head of Severance Hospital’s medical innovation division, will oversee the project as a lead researcher, while Lemon Healthcare, infomining, Heron Health Information System, and MizMedi Hospital will participate as cooperative organizations.

The “establishment of a full-cycle management model tailored to the MZ generation” project aims to create a safe childbirth environment and secure continuity in treatment by developing a childbirth support program that reflects the characteristics of the MZ generation.MZ generation mothers born in 1981-2005 have a high understanding of ICT technology, such as difficulty visiting hospitals for face-to-face treatment due to economic activities and concerns over COVID-19, but there is a lack of a systematic support system for MZ generation births, such as a decrease in ▲ childbirth hospitals ▲ imbalance between regions ▲ maternal age.Accordingly, Yonsei Medical Center will establish a customized education and management system for mothers such as providing ▲ education and management contents through the MZ generation’s full-cycle management model ▲ implement non-face-to-face cooperation and guidance functions by upgrading mobile apps ▲ 1st to 3rd, and establish information exchange channels between regions.First of all, it plans to provide various services for mothers and guardians through the development of the ICT platform “Smart Mom Care.” Mothers and guardians can receive education and counseling online, and medical staff can monitor the condition of the hospitalized mother in real time. In addition, a maternal and newborn management system will be established in connection with non-face-to-face cooperation between primary and tertiary medical institutions and home care projectsThis year, the “Smart Hospital Project,” which creates a new medical model using ICT in medical care, will be launched in three areas: operating room, hospitalization environment, and patient guardian education.

To this end, Chungnam National University Hospital Consortium, Seoul National University Hospital Consortium, Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital Consortium, and Severance Hospital Consortium will develop leading models, respectively.The Ministry of Health and Welfare held a briefing session on the launch of the 2022 Smart Hospital Leading Model Development Support Project at Maple Hall on the 4th floor of The Plaza Hotel in Seoul on the morning of the 20th and announced the full-fledged implementation of the project.This year, three areas of “patient-centered communication” (smart operating room/smart hospital environment/patient guardian education) were invited to create a hospital environment that supports understanding and communication at the patient’s eye level, and four consortiums were selected by evaluating business goals, strategies, detailed plans, and possibilities.”Patients reduce discomfort, doctors focus only on treatment”… Dramatic improvement of the medical service process When the “integrated medical platform” that effectively utilizes AI analysis results using such analyzed medical data is activated, it is expected to not only upgrade medical services, but also secure efficiency of the entire medical industry and reduce social costs. In particular, if AI-based “integrated medical platform” is used, it is expected that it will be able to lead to innovative improvement in procedures only in terms of medical processes. According to infomining, when looking at the current treatment process of domestic hospitals and clinics, patients need an average of about an hour and a half to wait before receiving a prescription. Patients should be on standby for each procedure, including initial examination, examination, reading, medical treatment, and prescription On the other hand, the reality is that doctors cannot secure enough direct medical time with patients. However, if the “integrated medical platform” is used, high-quality medical services that can fully utilize the data analyzed through AI will be possible.Of course, ICT-based ‘smart health’ is a blueprint that has already been presented in the medical and IT industries for a long time. However, the development was not faster than expected due to the problem of technical difficulty and internal interests of the medical industry.

However, as the concept of “AI-based integrated medical platform” has recently emerged at home and abroad, and as advanced models have been presented, expectations for medical process innovation are also growing much higher than before.

▲ INFOMINING CO., LTD.

▲ CEO : Jae-yong Lee

▲ http://infomining.co.kr

▲ worldconsult@infomining.co.kr

▲ +82-70-4914-2970

H.S HA

Asia Journal 

While Korean cultural contents such as K-drama (Squid Game), K-pop (BTS/Black Pink, etc.) and K-Webtoon are making strides around the world, the 4th Korean Wave (Korean Wave spread around online platforms such as Netflix) is also taking place in Japan.

According to The Nikkei, “Korea’s cultural content exports are expected to double in 2021 from five years ago,” and “Korea is far ahead of Japan in the content industry.” According to the Korea Creative Content Agency, Korean cultural content exports are expected to reach 11.56 billion dollars (about 13.8315 trillion won) in 2021, up 7% from the previous year. This is nearly twice as much as five years ago (about $6.01 billion). Regarding the broadcasting content sector, such as dramas that are popular in Japan, they said, “It is difficult to compare simply because the standards are different,” but added, “Korea’s broadcasting content exports (77 billion yen) exceeded Japan’s exports (53 billion yen) in the same year.”

“Since October last year, when the squid game, which caused a global syndrome, has been released, three to four Korean works have been steadily listed in Netflix’s top 10 non-English program viewing rankings”, they said, analyzing that such success is leading to the popularity of other Korean Wave contents. Regarding K-pop, they said, “Other popular singers such as BLACKPINK continue to come out, starting with BTS.” Comics, Japan’s proud content, is also giving way to Korea’s “Webtoon platforms” such as Pickcoma (Kakao) and Line Manga (Naver). As Naver and Kakao compete for the supremacy of webtoons read on smartphones, cartoonists around the world are increasingly posting their works on the platforms of the two companies

Along with the COVID-19 pandemic, this fourth Korean Wave is shifting to interest in various consumer products such as K-package bars, K-hair, K-food, and K-beauty.

Restaurants that seem to resemble Korean cart bars have opened everywhere from Shibuya, where young people gather, to Shinbashi, which is called the “sacred place of salaried men.” A store that sells “Korean-style fat macarons” has entered Ginza, the richest village in Tokyo.

Young people are attaching the word “Korean style” here and there. Words such as “Korean-style cafe” and “Korean-style interior” are commonly used on social media. Korean style is a generic term for Korea’s sophisticated atmosphere that can be seen on Instagram, and it is an atmosphere where you must search for “Korean style hair” before going to a hair salon.

” Tokan Gokko,” which makes you feel like traveling abroad after buying Korean food – Japanese women in pajamas are taking proof shots with Korean ramen and beverages piled up at hotels in Japan. Recently, the so-called “Tokan Gokko”,  which eats Korean food, consumes content, and makes you feel as if you are on a trip to Korea, is in vogue in the younger generation of Japan.

Japan, the world’s third largest cosmetics market, is known as a “barometer” of global beauty recognition. As such, it is also considered a battleground for imported cosmetics. Among K-beauty, mask packs and liquid lipstick are driving the popularity. At the 2021 Cosme Week Tokyo, the largest cosmetics exhibition held in Tokyo last year, Korean beauty companies “Medi Hill” and “Romand” ranked first in the mask pack and lipstick categories, respectively. It is also meaningful that it is growth centered on small and medium-sized companies, not on large Korean companies. Wearing a mask due to COVID-19 has become a daily routine, and there is a strong tendency to prefer basic makeup that does not burden the skin by omitting foundation. Thanks to the success of Korean dramas through Netflix, local affinity for K-beauty has increased.

Three to four years ago, exports of consumer goods through offline buyers were the main focus, but products that had good consumer response online were linked to offline entry due to lower barriers to online entry.

MIKE CHOI
ASIA JOURNAL