As countries worldwide begin to open their borders for travel after the outbreak of COVID-19 in December 2020, travelers from all across the globe are now re-experiencing the luxury of travel. In August 2022, South Korea welcomed roughly 310,935 foreigners into the country—a 220.3 percent increase since August 2021 (Korea Tourism Organization, 2022). Foreigners from the United States topped the list with 50,299 visitors. China followed the United States with 30,248 and Japan with 26,482 visitors.
Photo by Madison Sailakkham
Changes in South Korea’s COVID-19 Travel Guidelines
The spread of COVID-19 set the world in an era of isolation, restricted travel, and limited contact. However, almost three years after the global setback, South Korea has begun to ease its travel and mask requirements, mandating wearing masks only in all indoor settings. In addition, as of October 1, 2022, a pre-entry and post-entry negative COVID-19 test is no longer required to enter the country. This change allows foreigners, as well as native Koreans, to travel to and from South Korea more freely.
What makes South Korea so unique?
Before the rise of the international sensation of BTS or the broadcasting of TV shows like Squid Games and Business Proposal, South Korea experienced moderate international attention. Today, the country is known for all kinds of things: K-pop, K-dramas, Korean cuisine, K-beauty, and more. Akshita Chhetri (GMUK, Business, 26’), who is from Dubai and is of Indian-Nepali descent, shares that, even in Dubai, her experiences with Korean culture were largely influenced by K-pop. Chhetri goes even as far as creating her own K-pop dance group in Dubai called DXBFELICITY. Lauren Ray (GMUK, Conflict Analysis, and Resolution, 26’), an American student from Florida, also shares that K-pop has impacted her interest in Korea and Korean culture. This global recognition coined the name “Hallyu,” meaning Korean wave, during the mid-1990s. The term refers to Korea’s popularity and rises in cultural economics and products.
Spreading Korean Culture
Social media has played a significant role in spreading Korean culture to media users outside of South Korea. K-pop dances, Korean mukbangs, and beauty products took the world by storm, as a series of trends were created exhibiting the best of Korean pop culture. In a bittersweet way, modern entertainment associates a product’s success with “hitting the American stage/market” or reaching international audiences. Ray experienced the Hallyu hitting American platforms firsthand. She states, “The contact I had with Korean culture was purely through the internet. I watched many videos about Korea, like the Korean Englishman and Korean variety shows.” Media platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and Tik Tok allowed Korean pop culture products to spread rapidly. It ultimately influences South Korea’s overall popularity and attractiveness.
Increase in Economic Tourism
From a tourism point of view, international interest in South Korea’s products has sparked significant inflation in the country’s tourism sector and economy. In August 2022, South Korea received an estimated one billion United States dollars (USD) from tourism compared to eight hundred forty-one million dollars (USD) only a month before. “South Korea is a country where a natural and metropolitan lifestyle can co-exist,” Chhetri shares, “…which allows the youth of the country to bring forward more impactful ideas applicable to as many industries as possible.”
Public media, whether within South Korea or internationally, has acknowledged South Korea’s rapid growth. Predictions across the media believe that the spread of Hallyu will continue to encourage foreigners to participate in South Korean culture and visit the country. South Korea’s Hallyu wave does not stop here. Social media will continue encouraging tourism to South Korea’s many attractions in the modern digital age. The Korean wave that took the world by surprise has the power to turn South Korea into one of the most significant cultural superpowers in the world, improving the country’s perception in the eyes of the international community.
Written by Madison Sailakkham | Staff Writer
Revised by Yoonhye Cho | Managing Editor
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