Soft powerhouse

Filipinos take pride in natural hospitality, but South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol may find himself getting an extra warm welcome during his two-day state visit here.

You know the reason: in the 13 years since a South Korean president last came visiting, Pinoys have discovered the delights of K-pop, K-drama, tteokbokki, bingsu and samgyeopsal.

These days, millennials and GenZs are sporting Korean hairstyles, dressing (and dancing and singing) like BTS and Jennie, and using Korean beauty products.

Without grabbing anyone’s maritime territory and alienating trading partners through economic blackmail, South Korea has conquered the world, through the projection of soft power.

It has also become an industrial and economic powerhouse – not yet on the scale of the second and third largest economies, China and Japan, but closing in, if the Koreans sustain their innovation and growth trajectories.

Read more: https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2024/10/07/2390614/soft-powerhouse