`Culture Is New Driving Force Of Economy'
By Huraizah Ahmad

Bandar Seri Begawan - Culture is the new driving force of the Korean economy. The popularity of South Korean shows, singers and movies throughout Asia is due to both South Korean high income level and the close cultural affinity they share with other Asian nations.

South Korea has the 9"' largest film market, as entertainment companies are willing to finance shows and movies with production values much higher than other parts of Asia.

This was stated by Korean Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism Lee Bo Kyoung at the opening ceremony of the third Global Culture Industry Forum in Seoul, South Korea.recently.

The "Korean Wave", or "Hallyu refers to the popularity of South Korean pop culture in other Asian countries.

"The significance of the culture has become more evident alongside the progress of science and technology. For the past 20 years, modern mass media techniques have evolved beyond recognition, structurally revolutionising traditional industries and causing rapid changes in the cultural world," said Lee Bo Kyoung, who is also president of Hong Kong daily newspaper Takungpao, in a lecture entitled "The Future Prospects of the Asian Culture Industry".

"The commercialisation of cultural departments of various countries and corresponding development of mass media technique has also made culture the centre of both industrial and political structures.

"Although the importance of culture has become more evident, the landscape of cultural development has become increasingly uneven, highlighting the fact that some cultures appear to be a lot `stronger' than others.

"Asia and the rest of the countries in South Pacific have a 19 per cent share of the total world cultural market while the rest of the 77 per cent is enjoyed by Europe (34 per cent) and the United States (43 per cent).

"American mass media, British music, French tourism industry and German publishing all bear the label of international culture in which the four biggest Western news agencies - Reuters, Associated Press, L'Agence France-Press and United Press - provide 90 per cent of all international news reports.

"All of these gathered statistics tell us that Western culture exported by Americans and Europeans is now dominating the world whereas Asian and other cultures are in a weaker position.

"Nurturing a competitive cultural industry is essential for increasing cultural influence and only by doing this will Asia have a cultural influence commensurate with its cultural wealth.

"Some Asian countries have already built a booming cultural industry based on their own culture such as the `Korean Wave' - a result of Korea's national policy of protective cultural development.

"Adding to that, the Korean government has established `Innovative Culture Digital Institution' and `Story Bank' for the archive of historical information of various aspects of its culture. These databases have opened a freeway of film and drama productions and literary creations.

"In order to emulate the success in Europe, Asia has engaged in active discussions on how various countries can cooperate in developing a cultural industrial sector through the Asean+3 Cultural Ministerial Conference, Regional Culture Experts Conference, Global Cultural Industry Forum, Asian Cultural Cooperation Forum and other regional cultural activities," Lee said.

Meanwhile, Malaysia's Enfiniti Production managing director Tiara Jacquelina delivered a lecture on "A Single Community for Asian Culture", during which Tiara said that "Malaysia's longest running box office success of al l time, 'Puteri Gunung Ledang', reached a milestone when it surpassed foreign musicals imported into Malaysia". -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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