Dal Yong Jin

This book examines ten of the most common myths surrounding the Korean Wave in relation to its histories, theories, and practices. Dal Yong Jin explores several major misconceptions that are frequently encountered in relation to Hallyu, with each chapter examining one major myth. Through discussion of these myths, this book offers a foundation for students, scholars, and global Hallyu fans to reflect more critically on these issues. The book extends the empirical and theoretical boundaries of the existing studies of Hallyu by critically investigating its global circulation and reception across different geo-cultural locations, and theoretically develops an evidence-based, critical framework for understanding the complexities and contradictions of cultural globalization, rather than perpetuating a mythologized perception of the Hallyu phenomenon. The discussions in this book comprehensively and historically shed light on the current debates on the role of Hallyu in the global cultural sphere - from political, economic, and cultural studies perspectives - and makes a significant theoretical and empirical contribution to media studies, Asian studies, and globalization studies. This book will be highly appealing to students, scholars, as well as general readers who are interested in the Korean Wave, media globalization, and contemporary digital culture.

This book examines ten of the most common myths surrounding the Korean Wave in relation to its histories, theories, and practices. Dal Yong Jin explores several major misconceptions that are frequently encountered in relation to Hallyu, with each chapter examining one major myth. Through discussion of these myths, this book offers a foundation for students, scholars, and global Hallyu fans to reflect more critically on these issues. The book extends the empirical and theoretical boundaries of the existing studies of Hallyu by critically investigating its global circulation and reception across different geo-cultural locations, and theoretically develops an evidence-based, critical framework for understanding the complexities and contradictions of cultural globalization, rather than perpetuating a mythologized perception of the Hallyu phenomenon. The discussions in this book comprehensively and historically shed light on the current debates on the role of Hallyu in the global cultural sphere - from political, economic, and cultural studies perspectives - and makes a significant theoretical and empirical contribution to media studies, Asian studies, and globalization studies. This book will be highly appealing to students, scholars, as well as general readers who are interested in the Korean Wave, media globalization, and contemporary digital culture.

Korea’s Platform Empire explores the evolution of digital platforms in South Korea’s media sphere, and their global political, economic, cultural, and technological influence. With a focus on Korea in the context of the global platform revolution, the book takes a methodical look at the broader social implications and the impact on cultural production. The authors explore various facets of the media and cultural industries—looking beyond social media to news broadcasting and the music industry—and look at the policy and regulations behind this shifting technological advancement. This book will appeal to students and scholars working on media industries, digital media, platform studies, information and technology studies, Korean and East Asian media studies, and the creative and cultural industries.

This book examines the transformative impact of generative AI on cultural production, with a particular focus on how AI technologies like ChatGPT are reshaping the creation of popular culture. Through a comprehensive analysis of both Global North and South perspectives, the book offers critical insights into AI governance, ethical considerations, and the future of cultural production in an increasingly AI-integrated creative landscape. Tracing the evolution of AI in cultural industries, from its early representations in films to its current active role in content creation across various media, including film, television, music, and animation, the book explores how AI has shifted from being merely depicted in cultural works to becoming an integral tool in the creative process, from pre-production to post-production stages. It critically analyzes three core concepts—creativity, control, and credentials (3Cs)—in the context of AI-driven cultural production, putting focus on the examination of "precarious creativity," the tension between human creative expression and AI-generated content. The work addresses crucial concerns about labor rights, job security, and creative control in the cultural industries. This book will interest graduate students and researchers in media studies, cultural studies, anthropology, globalization studies, sociology, and science and technology studies (STS), as well as interested policymakers and practitioners interested in AI's impact on the creative industries.

Cultural Production of Hallyu in the Digital Platform Era explores how histories, industry structures, and politics interact in the platformization of the Korean Wave. Dal Yong Jin argues that while much research centers on the Korean culture takeover and the dominance of Korean products on premier global media platforms, Korean cultural industries also experience reshaping and changing depending on the platforms, often on the global stage. Addressing the increasing significance of digital platforms, this work examines the transformative roles of over-the-top streaming services—Netflix, Viki, and V Live—video-sharing platforms such as YouTube, social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, and the power relations between content producers, information technology sectors, the government, creative laborers, and audiences in the globalization of Korean culture and media. By developing critical cultural industries studies as a new theoretical framework, Cultural Production of Hallyu in the Digital Platform Era explores the ever-growing Korean Wave phenomenon with the advent of global digital platforms.

An empirically rich and student-friendly book in which global media expert Dal Yong Jin discusses the nexus of globalization, digital media, and popular culture and provides an essential introduction to the shifting media ecology of the early 21st century. Offering an in-depth look at globalization processes as they relate to the global media, this second edition maps out the increasing role of digital platforms as they continue to shift the contours of globalization. This book introduces core theoretical concepts—such as cultural imperialism, platform imperialism, and soft power—that can be critically applied to a broad range of contemporary media policies, practices, movements, and technologies in different geographic regions of the world, with a view to determining how they shape and are shaped by globalization. Fully updated throughout, this second edition explores new critical issues—such as the impact of COVID-19 and the growth of artificial intelligence (AI) in cultural production—emphasizing the ever-increasing role digital platforms play in the globalization process. It also introduces new theoretical frameworks for understanding globalization, such as transnational proximity. End-of-chapter discussion questions prompt further critical thinking and research. An essential book for students of digital media, global media, and globalization that want to understand the increasing impact of AI and digital platforms on global media and culture in the digital platform era.

An empirically rich and student-friendly book in which global media expert Dal Yong Jin discusses the nexus of globalization, digital media, and popular culture and provides an essential introduction to the shifting media ecology of the early 21st century. Offering an in-depth look at globalization processes as they relate to the global media, this second edition maps out the increasing role of digital platforms as they continue to shift the contours of globalization. This book introduces core theoretical concepts—such as cultural imperialism, platform imperialism, and soft power—that can be critically applied to a broad range of contemporary media policies, practices, movements, and technologies in different geographic regions of the world, with a view to determining how they shape and are shaped by globalization. Fully updated throughout, this second edition explores new critical issues—such as the impact of COVID-19 and the growth of artificial intelligence (AI) in cultural production—emphasizing the ever-increasing role digital platforms play in the globalization process. It also introduces new theoretical frameworks for understanding globalization, such as transnational proximity. End-of-chapter discussion questions prompt further critical thinking and research. An essential book for students of digital media, global media, and globalization that want to understand the increasing impact of AI and digital platforms on global media and culture in the digital platform era.

Cultural Production of Hallyu in the Digital Platform Era explores how histories, industry structures, and politics interact in the platformization of the Korean Wave. Dal Yong Jin argues that while much research centers on the Korean culture takeover and the dominance of Korean products on premier global media platforms, Korean cultural industries also experience reshaping and changing depending on the platforms, often on the global stage. Addressing the increasing significance of digital platforms, this work examines the transformative roles of over-the-top streaming services—Netflix, Viki, and V Live—video-sharing platforms such as YouTube, social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, and the power relations between content producers, information technology sectors, the government, creative laborers, and audiences in the globalization of Korean culture and media. By developing critical cultural industries studies as a new theoretical framework, Cultural Production of Hallyu in the Digital Platform Era explores the ever-growing Korean Wave phenomenon with the advent of global digital platforms.

This book examines the nexus of East Asian media, culture, and digital technologies in the early 21st century from a Global South perspective. Providing an empirically rich analysis of the emergence of Asian culture, histories, texts, and state policies as they relate to both Asian media and global media, the author discusses relevant theoretical frameworks as East Asian popular culture and media have shifted the contours of globalization. After overviewing Western media/cultural theories and histories, the book explores the ways in which East Asia-focused analytical frameworks are able to shift people’s understanding of globalization and media, drawing upon examples from different East Asian countries to illustrate how current cultural flows have influenced and have been influenced by a handful of dimensions. Offering an important contribution to understanding the historical trajectory and recent developments of East Asia media, this book will interest students and scholars of media, communication, popular culture, cultural studies, Asian studies, politics and sociology.

Korea’s Platform Empire explores the evolution of digital platforms in South Korea’s media sphere, and their global political, economic, cultural, and technological influence. With a focus on Korea in the context of the global platform revolution, the book takes a methodical look at the broader social implications and the impact on cultural production. The authors explore various facets of the media and cultural industries—looking beyond social media to news broadcasting and the music industry—and look at the policy and regulations behind this shifting technological advancement. This book will appeal to students and scholars working on media industries, digital media, platform studies, information and technology studies, Korean and East Asian media studies, and the creative and cultural industries.

A comprehensive and critical introduction to understanding the Korean Wave (Hallyu) as a transnational media phenomenon. This book provides an accessible introduction to the Korean Wave—the rapid growth of local cultural industries and the global popularity of Korean popular culture over the past 30 years—providing historical, political, economic, and socio-cultural context to its initial rise and enduring popularity. Jin explores the transnational cultural flows of Hallyu across a variety of products and digital technologies—from television dramas, film, and K-pop to online games, and webtoons—and explains the process of cross-media convergence and the socio-political contexts behind the Hallyu phenomenon. He also explores how overseas fans and audiences advance K-pop fandom as social agents in different geo-cultural contexts. The book concludes by discussing if Hallyu can become a sustainable global popular culture beyond a fan-based regional cultural phenomenon. Each chapter features detailed contemporary case studies and discussion questions to enhance student engagement. This is essential reading for students of Media and Communication, Cultural Studies, Korean Studies, and Asian Studies, particularly those taking classes on popular culture and media, media and globalization, Korean popular culture, and East Asian culture.

A comprehensive and critical introduction to understanding the Korean Wave (Hallyu) as a transnational media phenomenon. This book provides an accessible introduction to the Korean Wave—the rapid growth of local cultural industries and the global popularity of Korean popular culture over the past 30 years—providing historical, political, economic, and socio-cultural context to its initial rise and enduring popularity. Jin explores the transnational cultural flows of Hallyu across a variety of products and digital technologies—from television dramas, film, and K-pop to online games, and webtoons—and explains the process of cross-media convergence and the socio-political contexts behind the Hallyu phenomenon. He also explores how overseas fans and audiences advance K-pop fandom as social agents in different geo-cultural contexts. The book concludes by discussing if Hallyu can become a sustainable global popular culture beyond a fan-based regional cultural phenomenon. Each chapter features detailed contemporary case studies and discussion questions to enhance student engagement. This is essential reading for students of Media and Communication, Cultural Studies, Korean Studies, and Asian Studies, particularly those taking classes on popular culture and media, media and globalization, Korean popular culture, and East Asian culture.

Webtoons—a form of comic that are typically published digitally in chapter form—are the latest manifestation of the Korean Wave of popular culture that has increasingly caught on across the globe, especially among youth. Originally distributed via the Internet, they are now increasingly distributed through smartphones to ravenous readers in Korea and around the world. The rise of webtoons has fundamentally altered the Korean cultural market due to the growth of transmedia storytelling—the flow of a story from the original text to various other media platforms, such as films, television, and digital games—and the convergence of cultural content and digital technologies. Fans can enjoy this content anytime and anywhere, either purely as webtoons or as webtoon-based big-screen culture. Understanding Korean Webtoon Culture analyzes webtoons through the lens of emerging digital cultures and discusses relevant cultural perspectives by combining two different, yet connected approaches, political economy and cultural studies. The book demonstrates the dynamics between structural forces and textual engagement in global media flows, and it illuminates snack-culture and binge-reading as two new forms of digital culture that webtoon platforms capitalize on to capture people’s shifting media consumption.

Webtoons—a form of comic that are typically published digitally in chapter form—are the latest manifestation of the Korean Wave of popular culture that has increasingly caught on across the globe, especially among youth. Originally distributed via the Internet, they are now increasingly distributed through smartphones to ravenous readers in Korea and around the world. The rise of webtoons has fundamentally altered the Korean cultural market due to the growth of transmedia storytelling—the flow of a story from the original text to various other media platforms, such as films, television, and digital games—and the convergence of cultural content and digital technologies. Fans can enjoy this content anytime and anywhere, either purely as webtoons or as webtoon-based big-screen culture. Understanding Korean Webtoon Culture analyzes webtoons through the lens of emerging digital cultures and discusses relevant cultural perspectives by combining two different, yet connected approaches, political economy and cultural studies. The book demonstrates the dynamics between structural forces and textual engagement in global media flows, and it illuminates snack-culture and binge-reading as two new forms of digital culture that webtoon platforms capitalize on to capture people’s shifting media consumption.

This book examines the nexus of East Asian media, culture, and digital technologies in the early 21st century from a Global South perspective. Providing an empirically rich analysis of the emergence of Asian culture, histories, texts, and state policies as they relate to both Asian media and global media, the author discusses relevant theoretical frameworks as East Asian popular culture and media have shifted the contours of globalization. After overviewing Western media/cultural theories and histories, the book explores the ways in which East Asia-focused analytical frameworks are able to shift people’s understanding of globalization and media, drawing upon examples from different East Asian countries to illustrate how current cultural flows have influenced and have been influenced by a handful of dimensions. Offering an important contribution to understanding the historical trajectory and recent developments of East Asia media, this book will interest students and scholars of media, communication, popular culture, cultural studies, Asian studies, politics and sociology.

This book offers an in-depth academic discourse on the convergence of AI, digital platforms, and popular culture, in order to understand the ways in which the platform and cultural industries have reshaped and developed AI-driven algorithmic cultural production and consumption. At a time of fundamental change for the media and cultural industries, driven by the emergence of big data, algorithms, and AI, the book examines how media ecology and popular culture are evolving to serve the needs of both media and cultural industries and consumers. The analysis documents global governments’ rapid development of AI-relevant policies and identifies key policy issues; examines the ways in which cultural industries firms utilize AI and algorithms to advance the new forms of cultural production and distribution; investigates change in cultural consumption by analyzing the ways in which AI, algorithms, and digital platforms reshape people’s consumption habits; and examines whether governments and corporations have advanced reliable public and corporate policies and ethical codes to secure socio-economic equality. Offering a unique perspective on this timely and vital issue, this book will be of interest to scholars and students in media studies, communication studies, anthropology, globalization studies, sociology, cultural studies, Asian studies, and science and technology studies (STS).

This book offers an in-depth academic discourse on the convergence of AI, digital platforms, and popular culture, in order to understand the ways in which the platform and cultural industries have reshaped and developed AI-driven algorithmic cultural production and consumption. At a time of fundamental change for the media and cultural industries, driven by the emergence of big data, algorithms, and AI, the book examines how media ecology and popular culture are evolving to serve the needs of both media and cultural industries and consumers. The analysis documents global governments’ rapid development of AI-relevant policies and identifies key policy issues; examines the ways in which cultural industries firms utilize AI and algorithms to advance the new forms of cultural production and distribution; investigates change in cultural consumption by analyzing the ways in which AI, algorithms, and digital platforms reshape people’s consumption habits; and examines whether governments and corporations have advanced reliable public and corporate policies and ethical codes to secure socio-economic equality. Offering a unique perspective on this timely and vital issue, this book will be of interest to scholars and students in media studies, communication studies, anthropology, globalization studies, sociology, cultural studies, Asian studies, and science and technology studies (STS).

In Transnational Korean Cinema author Dal Yong Jin explores the interactions of local and global politics, economics, and culture to contextualize the development of Korean cinema and its current place in an era of neoliberal globalization and convergent digital technologies. The book emphasizes the economic and industrial aspects of the story, looking at questions on the interaction of politics and economics, including censorship and public funding, and provides a better view of the big picture by laying bare the relationship between film industries, the global market, and government. Jin also sheds light on the operations and globalization strategies of Korean film industries alongside changing cultural policies in tandem with Hollywood’s continuing influences in order to comprehend the power relations within cultural politics, nationally and globally. This is the first book to offer a full overview of the nascent development of Korean cinema.

In Transnational Korean Cinema author Dal Yong Jin explores the interactions of local and global politics, economics, and culture to contextualize the development of Korean cinema and its current place in an era of neoliberal globalization and convergent digital technologies. The book emphasizes the economic and industrial aspects of the story, looking at questions on the interaction of politics and economics, including censorship and public funding, and provides a better view of the big picture by laying bare the relationship between film industries, the global market, and government. Jin also sheds light on the operations and globalization strategies of Korean film industries alongside changing cultural policies in tandem with Hollywood’s continuing influences in order to comprehend the power relations within cultural politics, nationally and globally. This is the first book to offer a full overview of the nascent development of Korean cinema.

Global media expert Dal Yong Jin examines the nexus of globalization, digital media, and contemporary popular culture in this empirically rich, student-friendly book. Offering an in-depth look at globalization processes, histories, texts, and state policies as they relate to the global media, Jin maps out the increasing role of digital platforms as they have shifted the contours of globalization. Case studies and examples focus on ubiquitous digital platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, and Netflix, in tandem with globalization so that the readers are able to apply diverse theoretical frameworks of globalization in different media milieu. Readers are taught core theoretical concepts which they should apply critically to a broad range of contemporary media policies, practices, movements, and technologies in different geographic regions of the world – North America, Europe, Africa, Latin America, and Asia – with a view to determining how they shape and are shaped by globalization. End-of-chapter discussion questions prompt further critical thinking and research. Students doing coursework in digital media, global media, international communication, and globalization will find this new textbook to be an essential introduction to how media have influenced a complex set of globalization processes in broad international and comparative contexts.