The Journal of Culture Contents ISSN:2287-2256(Print) 2671-7026(Online) 문화콘텐츠연구

This paper regards the Korean Wave as an exemplary glocal culture and discusses the concept of glocal culture. Glocal culture contains a mixture of global and local contexts and is in turn transnationally consumed. By considering the Korean Wave as an exemplary glocal culture, the paper shows global impacts, local socio-cultural characteristics, hybrid features, and transnational consumption of the Korean Wave. The local countries consuming the Korean Wave respond to globalization by creating new forms and styles of glocal cultures through local re-interpretations of the Korean Wave. In addition, the paper introduces the activities of the local K-pop fans as evidences of cultural communities. The glocalizing dynamics of the Korean Wave can be seen in the process of consumption and the creation of new pop culture in the countries that consume the Korean Wave. With the cases of glocalization of the Korean Wave, this study intends to consider the Korean Wave as a way to build cultural relationship between Korea and the Korean Wave receivers. It is an important factor for the creation of transnational cultural communities where people among different countries share cultural universals, identities and tastes based on the Korean Wave, and further develop two-way communication, mutual understanding and cooperation.