Korean migration and Hallyu: the emergence of Korean celebrities in the Philippine entertainment industry

Abstract

The Philippines is home to many Korean migrants, who started migrating to the Philippines in the 1990s for economic purposes, and later for educational purposes. As the Korean community in the Philippines continued to grow, they brought with them their own culture, with businesses catering to Koreans also increasing. Meanwhile, Hallyu or the Korean wave has been spreading like wildfire all over the world since it first became popular in China in the early 2000s, and the Philippines is one of the countries where Korean culture has become popular. Eventually, the Korean community in the Philippines, in one way or another, became ambassadors of Korean culture in the country, opening their businesses that used to cater only to fellow Koreans to the Filipinos who became more interested in Korean culture because of K-dramas and K-pop. Because of the presence of Korean communities in the Philippines, Filipinos can have access to Korean products and culture. At the same time, the popularity of Hallyu and Korean culture in the Philippines also attracts Korean migrants to try their luck in the Philippines. Over time, some Korean migrants were able to make a name for themselves in the Philippine entertainment industry, further boosting the popularity of Korean culture in the Philippines. While looking at the role of Korean migration in the spread of Hallyu and Korean culture in the Philippines, it is also important to look at how it had a direct effect on the economy and international relations between the Philippines and South Korea.