South Korea’s soft power the Korean wave Uk Heo, Sooho Song

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Heo, Uk, 1962- author.

Song, Sooho, author.

Series:

Cambridge elements. Elements in Indo-Pacific security

Cambridge elements. Elements in Indo-Pacific security 3033-4837

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Soft power (Political science)--Korea (South).

Soft power (Political science).

Korea (South)--Foreign relations.

Korea (South).

International relations.

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Place of Publication:

Cambridge Cambridge University Press 2026

Summary:

"Since Korean cultural products and entertainers have gained global popularity – the so-called Korean Wave – many studies have regarded the Korean Wave as Korea's soft power. However, the concept of soft power remains contested in the political science literature, particularly because it is difficult to clearly distinguish it from hard power. This Element, therefore, examines whether the Korean Wave can be considered Korea's soft power within the debate surrounding the concept. The findings indicate that the Korean Wave has enhanced Korea's national image and increased trade and international interest in the country. As Korea is not a superpower, this case suggests that soft power can be real without hard power support and that the Korean Wave is Korea's soft power. Nevertheless, due to the limited evidence that the Korean Wave leads to policy changes in other countries, the term “soft power” should be used with caution"-- Cambridge Core

Contents:

Power in international relations theories

The Korean wave

Empirical analysis

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references

Online resource; title from PDF title page (Cambridge Core, viewed June 2, 2026)

Other Format:

Print version Heo, Uk, 1962- South Korea’s soft power

ISBN:

9781009728966

1009728962

OCLC:

1591026918

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license