You'll no longer have to fly to Korea to see your favourite stars or satisfy your cravings for K-cuisine - the Philippines' capital is investing in your newest dream destination
The Hallyu or Korean wave has undeniably taken the Philippines by storm. Samgyeopsal restaurants, Kpop and K drama fans, Korean skincare routines, and everything that brings us to the Land of the Morning Calm have overwhelming numbers...here's why.
Many people have attributed the rise of Hallyu wave to the debut performance of K group Seo Taiji & Boys in 1992. Lee Soo-man, a Korean entertainer turned businessman saw an opportunity and said that Koreans should start to market their music as "cultural commodities". During the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the Korean national government made sure that at least one per cent of its entire state budget is allocated to culture. In 1999, it enacted the Basic Law for the Promotion of Culturel Industries which gave birth to a league of passionate individuals devoted to the promotion of Korean culture through entertainment.
Meanwhile, a study titled Beyond the “Fad”: Understanding Hallyu in the Philippines suggested that Hallyu wave arrived in the Philippines through K dramas in the early 2000s. These dramas debuted in GMA7, with The Successful Story of a Bright Girl, as a response to the rival station ABS-CBN‘s successful airing of the Taiwanese drama Meteor Garden.
Famous Korean Personalities In The PH
Many K idols and stars have large fanbases in the Philippines, according to a study released by the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), BTS, EXO, Blackpink, GOT7, and iKON (respectively) are the most searched groups in the country. The report said BTS, for example, generated about 28 million buzzes or posts online. Ranking sixth to tenth places are Seventeen, NCT, Twice, Super Junior and actress Song Hye-kyo.
The Hallyu stars that ranked 11th to 20th are Mamamoo, Song Joong-ki, SHINee, Lee Min-ho, ASTRO, Ji Chang-wook, VIXX, Lee Jong-suk, Suzy, and Gong Yoo.
See also: 7 Lee Min-ho Movies and Shows You Need To Watch This 2021: The Heirs, TKEM, And More
Korea Town In Malate, Manila
Because the Korean culture is deeply embedded in the hearts of modern Filipinos, the local government of Manila in partnership with the South Korean Embassy decided to put up a Korean hub in the heart of Malate.
"The Manila Koreatown is meant to showcase Korean culture right in the nation's capital. This will also strengthen our relationship with Korea. And I am pretty sure that this project will be supported by both the Filipino and Korean communities," Manila 2nd district councillor Uno Lim, the principal author of Manila Koreatown, told reporters. "Thank you to the Manila City Council and to our Mayor Isko Moreno who approved this ordinance."
Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, on the other hand, explained why the local government agreed to build such site in Malate. We are building Korea Town in the Malate area to showcase Korean culture right in the nation’s capital. We also told His Excellency (South Korean ambassador Kim In-chul) about how we benchmarked Myeong-dong’s markets in Binondo, Manila."
Manila Koreatown will have annual cultural activities that celebrate everything Korean: beauty, music, fashion, and food.
More from Tatler: Unlimited Korean BBQ At OORI, Sheraton Manila