Overview

From Koreanness to K-ness: Contemporary Korean Culture and Society aims to conceptualise ‘K-ness’ as a new way of understanding the underlying characteristics that shape the semiotic, cultural, and sociological representations of contemporary Korean culture and society. The global popularity of Korean cultural content has sparked extensive interest in various facets of the Korean language, culture, and society. These recent changes present a unique opportunity to reassess and reshape our approach to the theorisation of ‘Koreanness’ as a strong national identity significantly influenced by Confucian values, patriarchy, and patriotism. Indeed, a multitude of K-words – including the ever-popular domains of ‘K-pop’, ‘K-drama’ and ‘K-food’ – reflect the diverse but coherent manifestations of the new Koreanness, which often transcends the boundaries of tradition and history. In this interdisciplinary edited volume, the contributors provide fresh insights into the new Koreanness that has been reshaped by the current international popularity of Korean popular culture, the emergence of new media, and the cross-cultural encounters in the more globalised environment. By exploring themes, topics, and theories linked to ongoing discussions and emerging trends, this book illuminates the multidimensional nature of ‘K-ness’.

Full Product Details

Author:   Seryun Lee
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint:   Routledge
Weight:   0.480kg
ISBN:  

9781041015376

ISBN 10:   1041015372
Pages:   246
Publication Date:   30 April 2026
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Tertiary & Higher Education
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Not yet available  
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Table of Contents

Part 1: Emerging Trends 1. The Rise of the Korean Short Story Cycle Yeonjak Soseol as K-Literature 2. From Korean Identity to K-identity: Interpreting K-ness in Global Hallyu Exhibitions 3. Korean Cultural Identity in Contemporary Performance 4. Reinterpreting and Representing Korean History and Historical Culture in Television Drama Part 2: Korean Affects 5. The Rise of Intimacy Experts in Korean Popular Culture and the Commercialization of Discourses of Healing and Happiness: Analyzing the “Nation’s Mentor” Dr. Eun-Young Oh and Related Media Cases 6. Is K-ness Korean-ness? BTS’ challenge to Hegemonic Masculinity in Korea Part 3: Crafting Koreanness: Policies and Cultural Diplomacy 7. Korean Wave and Public Policy: Examining State’s Role in the Transnational Cultural Phenomenon 8. Who is Korean?: (Re)imaging Korean Identity by the Overseas Koreans Foundation Part 4: The Shaping of New Koreanness from Cross-Cultural Perspectives 9. How Korean is Korean Literature in Spain? Longitudinal Research on Availability and Presentation of Korean Literature in Translation 10. Transculturing the Nine-Tailed Fox: How the SCP Wiki Globalises Korean Folklore 11. From Consumers to Cultural Ambassadors: Exploring Sydney-Based K-Pop Cover Dancers’ Influence on Local Korean Wave Engagement 12. Translingual Trinkets of the Korean Wave: Deconstructing the Transnational Power of the Hybridity in K-Objects Part 5: The Disruptive Potential of Korean Culture 13. Kim Eui-sung in Hong Kong’s Anti-ELAB Movement: Transnational Celebrity Activism and South Korean Soft Power 14. Transnational K-Pop Fandom and Global Citizenship 15. K-pop Fandom Political Activism: Mobilizing Transnational Fan Communities for Social Change

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Author Information

Seryun Lee is Lecturer in Korean Studies at the University of Sydney, Australia. Prior to joining Sydney, she held positions at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies and the University of Queensland. She holds a PhD in Translation and Intercultural Studies from the University of Manchester. Her research interests centre on Korean culture and society, Korean language and translation, online communication, and contemporary screen culture. She is the author of Affect Theory and Translation on YouTube (2025), and her work has been published in a number of international peer-reviewed journals, including the International Journal of Cultural Studies, Social Media + Society, M/C Journal, and Continuum: Journal of Media & Cultural Studies.

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