On May 10, a prominent Korean media outlet published an essay discussing the remarkable rise of Korean culture in the Middle East. According to a recent Analysis Report on the Overseas Hallyu Survey by the International Cultural Exchange Promotion Agency, there has been a surge in the consumption of Korean music by 62.4% in the Middle East region. Additionally, most respondents have changed their perception of Korea positively after being exposed to Korean content.
The essay highlighted Jungkook, a member of K-Pop sensation BTS, who has played a significant role in increasing the popularity of Korean music in the Middle East. Jungkook’s outstanding performance at the World Cup positively affected the country’s perception of K-pop and saw an explosion in K-pop related Twitter hashtags and retweets in the region.
K-media emphasized JUNGKOOK’s IMPACT.
Jungkook was the only K-pop Artist that was mentioned in an article discussing Hallyu Wave dominating Middle East, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates ( UAE ).
According to a report officially published by Twitter,… pic.twitter.com/ZMh8LxGXUM
— JK DAILYʲᵏ (@Daily_JKUpdate) May 10, 2023
In April, the organizers of Qatar’s first-ever K-pop concert claimed that it was Jungkook’s performance at the FIFA World Cup opening ceremony in 2022 that influenced their decision to hold the festival in Qatar. They credited Jungkook’s performance as having enhanced the reputation and appeal of K-POP and K-Culture in Qatar and the Middle East.
https://twitter.com/_RapperJK/status/1643214723977019393
Organizers of ‘1st K-Pop Festival in Qatar’ said its happening due to Jungkook!
“We decided to hold K One Festival in Qatar 2023 following the positive impact of Jungkook’s performance at the World Cup. BTS Jungkook’s performance at World Cup which the world paid attention to, + pic.twitter.com/TxSW0iBz4a
— Jungkook SNS (@Jungkook_SNS) April 3, 2023
Jungkook’s contributions have undoubtedly paved the way and cemented K-pop’s popularity in the Middle East. As K-pop continues to expand its global reach, it is essential to recognize the immense impact that K-pop artists have on their audiences, especially in regions where there is emerging interest and potential growth.
SRC: https://www.allkpop.com/
