Korean popular culture in Bangladesh: Deconstructing the idea of one Asia

Abstract

At present, the consumption of Korean popular culture is very widespread across the globe. What is interesting, however, is the people's propensity, particularly in Bangladesh, towards the content produced from the aforementioned country. From an outsider’s perspective, this propensity may be explained as a result of belonging to the same continent—Asia. However, in reality, that is far from the truth. Thus, the study explores why Bangladeshi audiences find Korean popular culture appealing by using Chen’s concept of inter-Asian referencing. It analyses the influence of this culture in Bangladesh by referring to Asian scholars and experiences from Asian societies to highlight the similarities or differences that reside within the region. The research is based on Korean dramas and Korean popular music as the main media texts to analyse the popularity of the phenomenon. To study these in-depth, qualitative research methodology was employed by conducting a small-scale interview in order to study their reception among the audience in Bangladesh. The result of this research highlights that the presence of foreign elements in Korean dramas and popular music plays a significant role in their popularity in the country. It reveals that the appeal of Korean popular culture lies not in a shared Asian identity, but in the complex negotiation between differences and similarities. So, an apparent similarity is not all there is to Asia. The findings demonstrate the multiplicity of Asian identities and the diversity that reside within the region, deconstructing the notion of ‘one’ Asia.