One recurring theme I noticed among the Korean culture presentations was the competition/academic aspect of Korean youth. Among high schoolers, an enormous amount of stress are placed on student’s to get accepted to one of the SKY schools (Seoul, Korea, Yonsei). The competitive aspect of academics are far more rigorous and extreme than what we see in America. This competition carries on even after college when Korean youth try to find jobs. It’s very difficult for a native Korean to find a job and the unemployment rate of Korean youth is rather high as a result.
When doing research for my own cultural project, I was both surprised and not surprised by how popular dramas were in Korea and internationally. Korean dramas have definitely contributed the Korean wave or the spread of Korean influence and culture across the globe. I have gained a lot of respect for actors, directors, and screenwriters that work incredibly hard to get the dramas aired every night.
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