History of Korean Popular Culture: From Its Embryonic Stage to Hallyu (Korean Cultural Wave)

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to examine the history of Korean popular culture from its embryonic stage to hallyu (Korean cultural wave). The paper is divided into five sections: (1) introduction of mass-media and formation of popular culture during Japanese colonial period (1910-1945), (2) period of war and division from liberation of Korea in 1945 to 1950s, (3) popular culture in period of developmental dictatorship, (4) resistance culture and cultural movement, (5) hallyu as an attractive capital seen from the viewpoint of history of civilizations.