Automobiles, circuits and communications technology are among South Korea's largest exports. But the country's cultural offerings are the focus of an exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
Flashing television screens and projectors keep the eyes moving throughout the exhibit. A K-pop soundtrack gives the museum an atmosphere akin to a lively concert or perhaps a music video set.
BTS fan Dawn Baker threw her arms in the air as she entered a room with a huge music video playing on the gallery wall. Psy's “That That”, which was produced and features BTS' SUGA, is played repeatedly.
“I tried to get my kid to join BTS, but he was like, ‘Eh.’” “He kind of grew out of it, but I didn’t do it,” Baker laughed.
Baker is part of a Facebook group dedicated to the South Korean pop band BTS. I traveled from New Hampshire to experience the State Department's new show, “Hallyu: The Korean Wave.”
She is one of countless fans around the world who appreciate South Korea's media offerings. The country has grown into a formidable presence on the global stage over the past two decades. “Hello!” Or “Korean Wave” in English is the term given to the phenomenon of South Korean cultural appropriation.
The exhibit features costumes from the global Netflix film “Squid Game.” There's also a recreation of the bathroom from “Parasite,” the first non-English language film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. Then there's the jacket worn by singer Psy in the music video for “Gangnam Style,” which in 2012 was the first YouTube video to reach 1 billion views. In addition to many Korean sports fashion models.
These things serve as a reminder of how widespread South Korean culture is. The country's history both culturally and as a technology hub has positioned it for today's media moment, said Christina Yu Yu, curator and head of the museum's Department of Asian Art.
“Korean culture, on the one hand, is history and traditional values,” she said. “There is a Confucian value about family values, friendship, education, but on the other hand, you have a fast-paced lifestyle, you have innovation, you have commerce.”
The collision between tradition and modernity is a familiar dynamic in many other parts of the world. In South Korea, it served as the backdrop to a rapidly expanding media industry. “What's unique about Korea is that this story is told so well through these different media,” Yoo continued. “Having the infrastructure behind all these entertainment industries makes it possible for all these creators to be able to tell all these stories well.”
The State Department has works from its own collection on display in “Hallyu!” Including an 18th-century white porcelain moon jar and five works from the Joseon dynasty, the last kingdom of Korea. Throughout the exhibition, a small moon jar symbol next to the piece indicates whether this piece belongs to the museum's own collection.
In addition to Korean pieces, the exhibition also includes the Korean American experience with works by artists Julia Kwon and Timothy Hyunsoo Lee. Kwon spoke about the expansive nature of Korean culture, which has extended beyond the Korean diaspora to reach a broader range of the population. In turn, this audience fed the South Korean media more. “You don't produce culture or art in a vacuum,” she said.
South Korean culture has increasingly resonated with an enthusiastic global audience, and this exhibition offers these fans the opportunity to see the familiar up close and personal – a deeply personal experience for some.
“BTS is not only good for young people, but it's also good for anyone to love themselves. Moms don't usually put themselves first,” Baker said. “They really helped me love myself, so I can be a better father. I'm a better husband.” They also helped Baker gain a new perspective while undergoing cancer treatment. She sees it as a source of joy and inspiration, and in this show, she got a chance to engage with the music she's loved for years.
Baker walked past the giant music video display and entered a smaller, brightly lit room to experience the most interactive part of the show: stepping into a K-pop music video. She faced a television with a teacher teaching her choreography. She had several opportunities to practice, and then it was time to record her dance moves.
By the time Baker exited the small studio, her image had been inserted into the music video, along with other museum visitors. The cinematography is as K-pop fans might expect: lively and energetic.
Seeing herself on screen was an exhilarating moment for Baker. She once again threw her hands in the air, this time like SNL's Mary Katherine Gallagher and uttered the catchphrase in what appeared to be a genuine assessment of who she saw on screen: “Superstar!”
This segment aired on March 22, 2024.
