「韓国政府が韓流の更なる発展を妨害」、米記者が評論＝韓国
サーチナ 11月19日(土)17時44分配信
米国のニュース専門放送局「CNN」が運営する情報サイト「CNN GO」のソウル駐在米記者が18日、「韓国が韓流を殺している」と題したコラムで、韓国政府の過度な「韓流」支援政策に否定的な見解を示した。韓国メディアが関連内容を報じた。
記事ではまず、国際社会における韓国のイメージが韓流ブームの影響を受け、過去の「朝鮮戦争」「植民地」などのイメージから「流行の先導国」に変わっていると、韓流現象を評価した。
しかし、「無理に韓流を国家イメージに連結しようとする」韓国政府と韓国内の民族主義的情緒が、韓流ブームの更なる発展を妨害していると指摘し、「不幸にも、韓国の政策立案者らと民族主義勢力が韓流の潜在力に関心を持つようになり、韓流の持続的な拡散が中断される危機に置かれた」という。
記事では、韓国内で韓流の発展に悪影響を与える動きとして、近頃の韓国政府が韓流コンテンツの振興策として1兆ウォン（約700億円）を投じて推進する「グローバルファンド」や、海外各国での韓国文化院再建設計画などを挙げた。また日本の「反韓流現象」に対する韓国言論らの「過剰反応」についても懸念を示した。
一方、多くの韓国ネットユーザーは同記事に同感しているようで、「政府主導の韓流はあってはいけない」「韓流はただの文化で、国益と関連付けはやめよう」などと書き込んでいる。（編集担当：永井武）
http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20111119-00000017-scn-kr
Maxwell Coll: Korea is killing its own Wave
Government initiatives and nationalistic observers threaten the movement"s inherent allure
By Maxwell Coll 18 November, 2011
There is something remarkable happening in Asian pop culture, and it’s stemming from Korea.
While India’s Bollywood exports grip South Asia, Korean celebrities are beginning to make headlines across the region. The proliferation of Korean music, cuisine, drama, fashion and film has implications that should not be underestimated as Asia rises in the information age.
It is transforming old perceptions of the country -- the stereotypical images of the Korean War or the peninsula’s colonization -- and branding Korea as a hub of high technology and trend-setting cultural phenomena. Interestingly, it is also becoming a driving force in Korea"s tourism.
Unfortunately, the potential of the Korean Wave has caught the attention of policy makers and nationalistic observers who today threaten to wash out the movement and impede its natural course.
But it is the people with the best story to tell, not the governments with the strongest nationalistic campaigns, who will have the ability to affect change in the era of Facebook and Twitter.
Washing out the movement
The government, with its cultural initiatives, and nationalistic commentators are hurting Korean artists and limiting the potential of the Hallyu. They are doing a disservice to the actors, singers, producers and directors whose talents and appeal have naturally drawn worldwide support and enthusiasm.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism plans to launch a US$1 billion program that will fund massive global projects exporting Korean culture. This year alone, the government opened cultural centers in Australia, Spain, Indonesia and the Philippines.
In addition to federal initiatives, regular nationalistic media reports focus on minority groups in Japan protesting the rise of Korean celebrities or connect a 2NE1 MTV award to Korean exceptionalism.
“The Japanese protesters are disgusted at the idea of a former colony having such increased exposure,” wrote one columnist in a local daily.
If policy makers and observers would limit the connection between pop groups and Korea as a nation, the movement’s inherent allure will continue to grip consumers in all markets.
More on CNNGo: Anti-Korean wave in Japan turns political
One example
An earlier cultural phenomenon can serve as an enlightening comparison: Disco Fever.
The disco era, James Brown and “Kung Fu Fighting” included, emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s primarily in New York City clubs. Disco fever spread quickly throughout the West and would eventually become ubiquitous in Moscow’s 260 dance clubs, according to a 1980 Newsweek article. The movement struck the right chord at the right time and connected with a youth that was ready to get on up and stay on the scene.
But while some U.S. government-led initiatives did export this movement -- mainly soft-power radio stations like Voice of America and Radio Liberty -- Soviet teenagers violated Party laws in order to access the latest records because of the phenomenon’s natural appeal. Had the disco movement been known as the “Washington D.C. Boogy” or the “Capitalist Fever,” The Jackson 5 would not have stood a chance in the Communist bloc.
Limiting power
The Korean Wave has of course emerged in a different international scene. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is not trying to bypass radio-wave jamming to spread the popularity of Girls’ Generation. (Leave that to the Ministry of Unification.)
But the government still has the potential to seriously limit Korean artists’ reach in Asia and beyond.
To keep the movement authentic and its appeal widespread, drop “Korea” from the Wave and watch how far the talents, looks and appeal of the Korean people can really go.
http://www.cnngo.com/seoul/visit/maxwell-coll-korea-killing-its-own-wave-564122
韓国政府が1兆ウォンも投資して露骨な宣伝でゴリ押しする国策＝韓流に、他国が警戒感や嫌悪感を持つのは当然だと思うが。