• 수완나부미
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.15-38
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• 2024

In this paper, I will pursue initial ideas I formulated in 2012 about the permeation of Korean influences in Philippine popular culture, particularly in the production of serialized TV drama/soap operas or the "teleserye" [tele for television + "serye" or series; thus, TV drama series]. I called the phenomenon the "Korean Turn" as I observed the emulation of Korean televisual drama (nowadays called K-Drama) modes and practices by local production through various means of cultural appropriation. This time, I will expand my exploration to other aspects of Philippine entertainment and other cultural practices. I will also update my observations on the continuing "Korean turn" in the teleserye. I will argue, on the one hand, about the success and soft power of hallyu or the "Korean wave" in the Philippines; and on the other, about Philippine culture's enduring ingenuity in its reception and repurposing of hallyu. Ideas to be yielded here will form part of a potential framework in understanding the dynamics of the interface between Korean and Philippine cultures, in the context of globalization. I assert that popular culture remains to be an undervalued field of inquiry, as far as these contexts are concerned.

• 수완나부미
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.81-101
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• 2024

This paper examines the complexities and creative opportunities brought about by the transnational circulation of texts specifically in the areas of transmission, consumption, and adaptation. The circulation of texts and along with it creative elements such as generic forms, tropes, and frameworks for consumption form an integral part in the production and advancement of any form of popular culture. In the process of such circulation, adaptation becomes a form of social and political process necessary for domestic palatability. In this paper, I examine how these complexities can be illustrated in the circulation of one emerging popular form in East and Southeast Asia: Boys Love (BL) television and web series. Using the transnational movement of the BL genre from South Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines, I examine how the circulation and adaptations are inflected by considerations related to regional geopolitics and domestic issues concerned with the creative praxis of representing gender and sexuality.

• 동남아시아연구
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.1-56
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• 2009

It is generally acknowledged that Philippines politics has achieved a basic soil for democracy at the macro-level by the two incidents of 'People Power' (1986 & 2001). However, in spite of such an achievement, Philippine politics at the micro-level, does not enjoy the same reputation. Institutionalized 'Bossism' or 'patron/clientelism' political culture has been attributed to make such a gap. This paper aims to bridge the gap by a longitudinal observation on local politics of a particular province in the Philippines. Surigao del Norte is the province picked up for the study. The reason why this particular province attracts special concerns is that there appears to come a very dynamic local politics, led by an indigenous Christian organization, the PBMA (Philippines Benevolent Missionary Association), which was founded in the mid 1960s. With the coming of the organization in the province, the political power of the traditional families has been narrowed. On the other hand, new families, not only the leader family of the PBMA but also the family allied with the PBMA, has expanded political influence. Following steps are adopted to understand the meaning of such a change. First, institutional frame of Philippine politics and elections will be reviewed. Second, demographic changes will be investigated on Surigao del Norte province to find out how popular the PBMA organization is among the people. Third, local election outcomes will be examined to describe the changing nature of political landscape of the province. This will reveal how the relationship between the old and new families has been developed in the province. Lastly, based on the facts discovered by a longitudinal observation, an attempt to evaluate theories on Philippines politics will be made Conclusions are as follows. To understand the dynamics of Philippine politics, 'expectations from the below,' or, 'passions of the people,' suggested by Ileto, needs more attention. Furthermore, 'mutual accommodation' between domination and resistance, coined by Abinales, also demands more appreciation. The case of local politics in the Surigao del Norte, with the coming of the PBMA, is sure to show a concrete example of changing politics in the 'changeless land.'

• 수완나부미
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.39-80
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• 2024

Guided by the prism of cultural studies, this paper takes a look at the Manila Korea Town in Malate, Manila. The location, Manila Korea Town, figures as the paper's object of study by exploring, theorizing, and reflecting on its presence and location within the horizon of the signifying powers of Korea-Philippine relations in the contemporary period. With the subject position of this essay, the paper theorizes by responding to the following questions: How does the meaning-making of South Korea fare with other Koreatowns in the world from the scale of Koreatown in Manila? Subsequently, what happens to a place when a global cultural phenomenon evolves into a form of placemaking in a different nation and territory? As Koreatown finally grounds itself in the anarchic lifeworld of Manila, what does this historical development in our urban lives reveal about our contemporary times? Responding to this set of questions led this paper to foreground the idea of a modular imagined community within a four-part discussion. The body of the essay begins by theorizing on the concept that this paper proposes, modular imagined community, and such a concept work draws from the theories of nationalism by Benedict Anderson and Partha Chatterjee. Subsequently, the antinomy between Anderson and Chatterjee is pursued by looking at the history of such a place, and through this step, the paper unravels the character of the place of Manila Korea Town, which explains the conditions of possibility of such social and communitarian formation. Yet as the public is caught by the presence of such development especially at the heart of Manila, the paper expands the scale and viewpoint by shining light on the globality of South Korea in relation to the Philippines. Lastly, this paper closes with a discussion on the food culture facilitated by this recent development, which also pushes us to imagine its potential, especially in light of the critique raised against South Korea and the popular culture associated with this phenomenon.

• 한국콘텐츠학회논문지
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• 제13권9호
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• pp.92-101
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• 2013

말레이시아는 필리핀, 미얀마, 헝가리, 우즈베키스탄 등과 함께 한류성장단계로 분류된다. 성장단계는 한류가 일반인들에게 널리 알려지고 인기가 있으며 일반인 대상으로 한류 관련 상품의 판매가 도입되고 있는 상태를 말한다. 본 연구의 목적은 한류성장단계에 속하는 말레이시아 청소년과 성인들의 한류에 대한 의식을 비교하는데 있다. 이 두집단을 대상으로 FGD(Focus Group Discussion) 를 통해 한국에 대한 인상, 다른 문화에 대한 관심과 접촉 경로, 한국 대중문화의 특징, 한류의 성공에 대한 인식, 한류의 문제점, 한류의 극복 과제들에 대해 살펴보았다. 그 결과, 말레이시아인들의 한류에 대한 관심은 성별 및 연령별로 다르게 나타나고 있다. 20대들은 남녀 모두 한류에 대한 비교적 높은 관심을 나타냈으나, 30대 이상에서는 그리 높은 호응도를 보이지는 않았다. 그러나 말레이시아인들은 대체로 외래문화의 수용에 있어서 상당히 개방적인 태도를 보이고 있다. 이는 한류에 대한 견해에서도 그대로 드러나 한국 드라마나 영화, 음악에 대한 배타적 태도보다는 하나의 유행적 흐름으로 파악하고 있다. 따라서 반한류와 같은 배타적 태도를 염려할 필요는 없으나, 한류 영향력을 꾸준히 지켜가지 않고서는 언제든 타국의 문화로 대체될 가능성을 지니고 있어, 한류의 지속화 방안 모색이 필요하다고 본다.