The Tiger entices the Bear: The experience of South Korean Soft power in Russia

Occupation: 1. Research Fellow; 2. Guest Lecturer
Affiliation:
Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences
National Research University Higher School of Economics

ZHANNA SON

Occupation: Associate Professor
Affiliation: National Research University Higher School of Economics
Address: Москва, Adm. Lazareva st., 8-165

Journal name

Asia and Africa Today

Edition

Issue 3

Pages

24-30

Abstract

The Republic of Korea has in recent decades done a great job transforming its international reputation from being poor and rural to one of a well-developed, hi-tech country, and as well it has achieved great success in the popularization of its traditional and contemporary culture worldwide. It has helped this export-oriented Asian Tiger’s economy to significantly expand the size of the global market for Korean goods and services through the effective employment of soft power.

The experience of South Korean soft power in Russia, focusing on missionary activities, the popularization of the Korean language and the institution of sister-city agreements is considered in this paper. Nowadays, South Korean business is successfully developing in Russia, growing its trade volume and investing in the economy, but it may not lead to a serious breakthrough in the relations between the two countries. The main reason is that the perception of Russia among many South Koreans is largely indifferent or negative. Russia has a great potential to develop its own soft power in South Korea as not only classical literature, ballet, the Bolshoi Theater are popular there, but also the Russian language is also increasingly in demand. Within the studied examples, Russian soft power in action can be seen in the twin-cities relationship between Vladivostok and Busan, which should be considered a successful endeavor, as the Russian city supports cultural activities to raise awareness among Koreans.

Keywords

soft power, the Republic of Korea, Korean language, sister-cities, Russia

Received

21.12.2020

Publication date

28.03.2021

Number of characters

25620

Cite

GOST	Em P., SON Z. The Tiger entices the Bear: The experience of South Korean “Soft power” in Russia // Asia and Africa Today – 2021. – Issue 3 C. 24-30 [Electronic resource]. URL: https://asaf-today.ru/S032150750013115-8-1 (circulation date: 25.04.2024). DOI: 10.31857/S032150750013115-8
MLA	Em, Pavel P, SON, ZHANNA "The Tiger entices the Bear: The experience of South Korean “Soft power” in Russia." Asia and Africa Today 3 (2021):24-30. DOI: 10.31857/S032150750013115-8
APA	Em P., SON Z. (2021). The Tiger entices the Bear: The experience of South Korean “Soft power” in Russia. Asia and Africa Today (3), pp.24-30 DOI: 10.31857/S032150750013115-8

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