Diplomacy is a way for countries to show themselves in the international world, and is a way of communication between countries in order to establish cooperation. However, the transformation of the concept of the state and changes in the interaction patterns of actors in international relations affect how diplomacy is carried out. Diplomacy began to be carried out traditionally which was closed, full of secrecy, propaganda and, raising military issues only (High Politics), then departed into a more modern diplomacy accompanied by advances in information and communication technology with new issues other than military issues (Low Politics) being a concern. In today's globalization, many countries use public diplomacy or soft diplomacy which is the result of modern diplomacy.
Indonesia and South Korea are two countries with cultural values that are very thick with their respective uniqueness, Indonesia has cultural diversity so that it becomes one of the important points in implementing soft diplomacy. Likewise with South Korea, this country does not have as much culture as Indonesia but is able to penetrate and shake various parts of the world on a large scale which then attracts the interest of the international community with its culture. The phenomenon of the influx of culture from South Korea is called the Korean Wave or Hallyu, by releasing various products in the form of culinary, fashion lifestyle, cosmetics, entertainment such as movies and dramas and pop music.
The Korean Wave is a cultural phenomenon that originated in South Korea and has spread throughout the world including Indonesia. The Korean Wave has become a global phenomenon that influences many aspects of popular culture. With its strong appeal and more modern creativity, the Korean Wave continues to attract new interests and fans in various countries including Indonesia and has made South Korea an increasingly influential cultural center internationally.
There are various types and spreads of Korean Wave that have entered Indonesia, among others:
1.Music (K-POP)
In this era, who does not know K-POP or pop genre songs from South Korea, which has become one of the attractions in cultural diplomacy. Such as South Korean music groups BTS, EXO and BLACKPINK which have been of great interest to teenagers in Indonesia. Many Indonesians, especially Gen Z, love listening to these K-POP songs and many also idolize one of the boy bands or girl bands from South Korea. With catchy songs, beautiful and handsome idols, as well as energetic and innovative stage performances, many teenagers in Indonesia idolize the South Korean band.
2.Korean Drama (K-Drama)
Korean dramas also have a considerable influence on cultural diplomacy. Very popular Korean dramas such as descendants of the sun, crush landing on you and goblin are trending in Indonesia. Many Indonesians are very interested into watch Korean dramas because Korean dramas feature interesting storylines every episode and the actors and actresses are handsome, beautiful and talented in acting, making many Indonesians very interested in Korean dramas. Unlike local soap operas that feature very many episodes, the storyline becomes disconnected and boring. That is a factor in the lack of interest of Indonesians in local soap operas so they are more interested in Korean dramas.
3.Movies
Just like Korean dramas, movies from South Korea are a factor in the spread of South Korean culture in Indonesia. South Korean movies also feature very interesting and not boring storylines. A total of 4,444 Korean films in both traditional and contemporary genres have won international awards and received worldwide attention. Movies like the Oscar-winning ``Parasite'' are examples of South Korea's success in exporting the quality and uniqueness of its film production. In 1993, the movie Seopyeonjae hit numbers at the box office and was seen by millions of viewers. It was an unexpected event because at that time there was no longer any hope for the survival of the local film industry. Therefore, the movie ``Short Review System'' became the first local movie to catch the attention of the Korean public. The movie also received invitations to be screened in countries in Japan, the United States, and Europe.
4.Food
South Korean food is also an important part of this cultural transmission. In Korean dramas and Korean movies, there is certainly a scene that shows Korean food. With that, many Indonesians become curious about the food, such as kimchi, bulgogi, and bibimbap. Making many Indonesians very curious about the Korean food.
5.Fashion and beauty
The Korean fashion and beauty industry also plays a role in cultural diplomacy. Korean fashion brands such as K-POP and Korean designers are attracting attention in the international arena including Indonesia. Korean beauty products such as skincare and makeup have also been recognized worldwide.
Of course, there are also negative impacts from the spread of K-Wave such as the risk of Indonesians losing interest in their own culture and gaining more interest in South Korean culture. It is important for all of us, the Indonesian government and society, to promote and protect local culture so that it is not forgotten by the impact of K-Wave.
The spread of South Korean culture certainly has positive and negative impacts. From the positive impact that can be used as a source of income for Indonesia. The amount of food, skincare and fashion that is in great demand by Indonesians can be used as a business idea for MSME players. Of course, this will also open up new job opportunities, so as to reduce the unemployment rate in Indonesia. It can also make collaboration between musicians from South Korea and Indonesia have created unique works and combine cultural elements from both countries in order to attract the interest of the Indonesian people to listen to music from Indonesian musicians.
Of course, there are also negative impacts of the spread of K-Wave such as the risk of decreasing the interest of Indonesian people in their own culture and higher interest in South Korean culture. It is important for all of us Indonesian government and society to promote and protect local culture so that it is not forgotten by the impact of K-Wave.
