just saw on a korean news on a korean channel that there's some anti-korean wave protests happening in japan. i guess the korean wave was able to penetrate too deep in japan that some japanese feel that this should be a serious concern. they think it has reached a level that makes it a threat to japanese culture and society. if im not mistaken (since im not really paying that much attention to the korean news. im not even sure if its actually some "real" news program), some japanese politicians are contemplating taking action against the korean wave (legislating some form of regulation probably).
well, since i saw it on a korean channel, there's a possibility (and good probability) that the news might be exaggerated a little bit. of course, there will be a bias in reporting the news item. there were footages of a rally, some clips of comments of some japanese personalities (maybe politicians) and the changes in some commercial districts which used to be filled with korean stuff (now replaced with japanese items of course). the tone of the report was also very serious. so it really gives off the impression that the news item is some serious concern for both countries. i mean, imagine local news channels here reporting about a mass protest about china's "hostile" attitude towards the philippines with regard to some territorial dispute and delivered by the reporter in a manner as if there is an impending inevitable war. the facts are given some sort of color and makes it look very serious when the situation, although serious, is really not that dark the way it was presented.
i wondered if such a thing will happen here in the philippines. will there be mass actions against the korean wave to protect our philippine culture and society from such foreign influence? i dont think so. our sense of nationalism or patriotism and sense of culture isnt really as...vibrant or as strong as koreans and japanese nationals (our sense of culture and patriotism should be greatly improved but the problem is how or where to begin). also, weve dealt with and "survived" fads before like the mexican telenovelas and japanese anime and it had its influences, might have left a deep impression to particular generations but i dont think its even something to be concerned about. plus, we have a colonial mentality to begin with. so there is still a need to build up our national pride. right now, or, the current state of things, we just adopt and adapt to the changing cultural and social environment. we integrate whatever foreign influence into our somewhat abstract culture we claim as our own. what our culture is exactly is hard to define since our nation is very culturally diverse. this abstract identity causes confusion but we manage to get by. for a poor country, i think were not doing that bad because despite how difficult things can get, we always push through. i think this is something we should take note of. we dont self-destruct despite what seems to be an endless barrage of negative stuff (the corruption, the calamities, some sort of crisis left and right). we keep on struggling to move forward and we keep doing it with a smile even if we admit we are a poor nation with a lot of problems.
anyway, the problem with or what makes the korean wave a concern is that korea is intentionally exporting it to promote korean culture. it raises other countries' awareness of their culture. its supposed to make korea (or south korea) and its culture look interesting. its essentially a marketable product that is successfully spreading globally. i dont think it has made such a deep impact yet in our country. it has made an impact, but somehow, i see it as a fad that will go away and were just waiting for the next "big" thing the local media will promote to us. the korean wave is bound to leave an impression but i dont think we will react the same way some japanese are reacting now. besides, if the same thing happens here, meaning, mass actions and possible regulation, it would run counter to a constitutionally granted liberty. its a form of censorship. and usually, what is censored makes the censored material a more sought item or object. its better to just let things be, it will pass or something new will crop up sooner or later. but then again, this is easy for us to do and this might not be a common attitude in japan.
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