K-Sensation: Why Filipinos Are So Attached with Everything Korean

Korean Culture in general has been embraced by Filipinos since the entrance of early Korean dramas and movies in the country strengthened by...

Korean Culture in general has been embraced by Filipinos since the entrance of early Korean dramas and movies in the country strengthened by Hallyu Wave. From then on, many people of all ages, young and old, appreciate the beauty and impact of Korean culture and is even seldom considered as a standard for filmmaking, cuisines, beauty standards and more.

Korean Dramas and Movies

During the 90’s, Korean dramas were not really given much attention in the Philippines since Telenovelas or soap operas were more popular and became a massive hit when media networks introduced foreign TV dramas that are dubbed in Tagalog. “Marimar”, “Betty La Fea”, “Rosalinda” and many others are just some of the Mexican and Spanish shows that captured the hearts of Filipinos. Filipina men and women would often swoon over attractive mestizos and mestizas starring in these films making it their ideal beauty and dating standard.

In the early 2000’s, Philippines experienced a significant change in Television as Asianovelas or Asian soap operas entered the spotlight. Countries like Taiwan and South Korea were two of the first countries to release their dramas in the country, and instantly, Pinoys fell in love. K-dramas like Autumn in My Heart, Stairway to Heaven, Full House, My Name Is Kim Sam Soon and Coffee Prince were loved by many when they were aired on GMA dubbed in Filipino. In 2009, ABS-CBN’s remake of Taiwan’s hit series Meteor Garden, titled Boys Over Flowers, succeeded and broke records. According to ABS-CBN Head of Integrated Acquisition, Evelyn Raymundo, “Koreanovelas give viewers a different style of storytelling from usual Filipino soap operas..Koreanovelas are a perfect complement to our Filipino soaps and viewers find them refreshing.”

Korean Food

With the introduction of Korean dramas and movies, came the popularity of Korean food showcased by the shows which intrigued the Filipinos interests more. Not only that, as Filipinos became fans of famous K-idols, it became a source of influence to indulge what these idols are eating and promote it to their fans. But, other than that, it’s notable how the popularity of Korean food in the Philippines is not just because of K-dramas, idols and such, but also because of its exquisite flavors. According to Bria, as the world continuously develops, Korean culture increasingly influences Filipinos and has grown in the years since it first hit the country. True enough, we see the extensive increase of Korean restaurants that serve various all-time favorites such as Samgyeopsal, Chapjae, Kimchi, Kimbap, Bibimbap among many others. Furthermore, we see a rise of Korean stores & groceries and commercial centers dedicated to serving Korean food for Filipinos. Another contributing factor is the now rising food trend: Mukbang. According to Digital In the Round, Mukbang is when someone hosts an online audiovisual broadcast while consuming food and interacting with the audience and became popular in South Korea over a decade ago, around 2008. With the help of social media, Mukbang received attention and love from Pinoys, where even a lot of local youtubers started to do Mukbang on their channel. Here’s a must-read article we have that you might want to know more about how Mukbang’s popularity skyrocketted today.

K-POP Music and Fashion

It is no question that Korean pop music is immensely popular in the Philippines. First generation girl and boy groups like Super Junior, Girls’ Generation, 2NE1, BIGBANG, 2PM, 4MINUTE, BEAST and ZE:A were just some of the few K-pop groups who contributed to K-pop's dominance, evident until today. The Korean Wave or Hallyu Wave, really made a strong impact in the Philippines which boosted the love for Korean culture. From Wonder Girls’ “Nobody”, to BIG BANG’s “Fantastic Baby”, 2ne1’s “Fire”, to PSY’s record breaking “Oppa Gangnam Style” who has the first video to receive a billion views on YouTube, definitely K-POP has arguably dominated the Philippines by storm. While K-pop music is continuously getting more famous in the country, the question remains: Why do Pinoys love it so much? Well, simply because the lyrics are catchy, appealing music videos, captivating beauty and fashion represented by idols, and of course, the quality of music. Korean pop music captivated the attention of mostly the youth brought by ever-changing trends. Social media became a tool for K-pop music to rise in the Philippines. No wonder many are doing K-pop dance challenges, covers and more in apps like Tiktok, Reels and the likes.
Along with their music, is the rise of Korean fashion. We see numerous K-idols who are trendsetters like CL, Suzy Bae, Black Pink, BTS and many more. From chic & preppy, to bohemian & streetstyle, these idols became the standard of K-fashion, and we can’t deny that they all look good too.

This article is written by Cathrine Grace S. Alcachupas, a Digital Marketing Department Intern of PS Media Enterprise and an AB Communication student in De La Salle University-Dasmarinas.