Hallyu... or I knew there was a market...

Some of us are old enough to remember the term "the British Invasion" which was a fever that swept across America after the Beatles kick started a movement. We couldn't get enough of that British sound and look, and it affected our pop culture in ways that still resonant today.

While I knew that certain elements of the Korean TV dramas were very popular in Japan and other asian cultures, I hadn't run across the term "Hallyu" (Korean Wave) when I started thinking about translating them for the American audience. (See this post for details on my plan.) The Korean Wave has taken Asia by surprise as the viewers clammer for more and more Korean entertainment. The Korean tourist industry has gotten such a boost that frequently the TV dramas focus around a tourist attraction. For example, even before Winter Sonata went into production, the marketing campaign for the settings of that specific drama were in place. Tourists want to see the places where their favorite stars acted, and even want to meet the stars and a deliberate marketing plan is in place to capitalize on the interest.

A movement that started after the Seoul Olympics in 1988, it has expanded into clothing lines, models, music, cell phones, and the brand-marketing is becoming a part of the TV drama in subtle ways. Plans to build their own "HallyuWood" outside Seoul are in place (for around 1.95 billion american) as they develop an entertainment center similar to our Hollywood.
That said, they have been fairly unsucessful at moving the wave to America and other English speaking cultures. The love of the Korean entertainment scene appeals to Asian-Americans, but not to mainstream America. I knew that there would be a problem as soon as I began dissecting the dramas for what would work or not work in our culture. I am fairly sure my plan would work. Now... I just need to find an Angel or two who can see the future and dare risk a couple million on a dream. Anyone want to invest in a dream?