Dear editor,

Although South Korea has produced internationally-recognized electronics products and automobiles, people all over the globe have no idea about Korea or Korean culture. Some may have an idea, but it can be about North Korea, rather than South Korea.

Basically, Korea's brand value is still very low or non-existent and Koreans should really work on raising the brand value of Korea because the country is so rich in culture. What I have noticed is that in the Western world, the entertainment business that wants to use Asian cultures always uses several countries in Asia except Korea.

The movie industry in Korea should work with Hollywood and have some Hollywood movies be based in Korea that show Korea's geography, culture, food and traditional dress as well as its contemporary pop culture.
Another strategy is to also work with singers, rappers, and so on to have them add Seoul, Korea, in their lyrics. Why not have Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Justin Beiber or Green Day film their music videos in Seoul and have Hangeul, the Korean alphabetical system, be added to certain scenes.

While it is situated between China and Japan, Korea is always being passed and overlooked when it shouldn't. Korean culture has its own unique food, culture, dress, language and architecture that can be easily differentiated with its more well-known neighbors.

The country has everything it needs to be well known. It seems as though Koreans are known to be very nationalistic and proud, the people themselves don't have much confidence in presenting their culture to the world.

Could it be that Koreans are anxious of what people would perceive their culture or how their culture would be inferior to their neighboring countries? If so, they are 100 percent wrong. People all over the world want to learn and enjoy other cultures. Korea, which is still unknown, will make a great impression if the culture itself was well known, especially the food.

The world is waiting for what Korea has to offer. Only focus on yourself and do not compare your country with other countries. Be confident and stay focused on what people want to learn. We are ready and willing to accept with open arms the true beauty of Korea.

Paul Stevens
psslckorea@gmail.com