Theorizing the Korean Wave| Transnational Proximity of the Korean Wave in the Global Cultural Sphere

Abstract

This article analyzes several distinctive Hallyu contents to determine whether “transnational proximity” based on similar sociocultural experiences, including social inequality, youth culture, and fascinating choreography in the late-stage capitalist society, instead of traditional cultural proximity, works as a major frame in understanding the global popularity of the Korean Wave. Here I articulate whether transnational proximity works as a new theoretical framework for explaining the nascent flow of Korean popular culture in the global cultural sphere.