Chinese Follows Korean Culture, and Visits Dae Jang Geum Scenic Spots
November 20, 2005China and South Korea have a lot in common when it comes to culture… so much so, that the deep-rooted link continues to bear fruit up until today. As Mao Xuzhi reports, though, South Korea has been much influenced by Chinese culture. The Korean pop scene is flourishing here once again.
This was the scene at Beijing International Airport last week. Hundreds of Chinese fans of a South Korean movie star were anxiously waiting for their idol’s arrival for a movie promotion.
Movie star fan said: “I saw him waving hands, but it’s such a pity I didn’t see his face. Next time when he comes, I will come to see him again.”
South Korean culture has hit China on an unprecedented scale since the early 2000s. Some Chinese media have called this phenomenon — a “Korean Wave”.
The impact is especially strong on Chinese youth, who tend to imitate hairstyles, fashion, and even the life styles from South Korea’s pop and movie stars, as well as characters from TV series.
The power of TV drama is gigantic. Now I’m standing at the place where the Korean TV drama Dae-Changgum, or in English, A Jewel in the Palace, was shot. Although the drama is over, its influence, especially the Korean culture reflected from the drama impressed the Chinese viewers.
The drama especially struck the Chinese audience with its Korean culture. Especially glimpses of imperial cuisine, such as steamed dishes, soup, kimchi,and many others.
The South Korean tourism administration says the number of Chinese tourists visiting the shooting locations of such films has spiked up after these dramas were broadcast in China.
And the cultural impact goes both ways.
At this primary school in downtown Seoul, pupils are learning the meaning of Chinese characters. Their teachers say they can learn up to one thousand Chinese characters before going to secondary school.
Centuries ago, the Chinese language reached the Korean peninsula through cultural and political exchanges. It gradually underwent ongoing modification to evolve into what has now become — the Korean language of today. But there was a time in the 1970s when the then South Korean government forbade teaching Chinese characters.
Today, though, Chinese words are again in vogue as more Koreans become aware of the importance of Asia’s classic culture and tradition.
Headmaster of Lila Elementary School said: “Many Korean words have Chinese roots. Through the learning of written Chinese characters, the students can better understand the meaning of our own words and culture. ”
During random interviews in Seoul, many local youngsters expressed that as globalization increasingly makes its way into conversations, a fever for China’s classic culture is also sweeping into their country. And with unprecedented close ties between the two neighbors, they hope China and South Korea will continue contributing to the promotion of Asian culture — around the world.
Source: CCTV 17th Nov 2005
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