National Assembly hallyu association sets sail

Participants at the founding ceremony for the National Assembly’s research committee on “hallyu” or the Korean wave discuss further promoting and expanding the popularity of Korean cultural content. From left are Rep. Chung Byung-gook of the ruling Saenuri Party; Foreign Minister Yoon Byung-se; Culture Minister Yoo Jin-ryong; and Rep. Park Byeong-seug of the opposition Democratic United Party and deputy speaker of the National Assembly. / Yonhap

A research committee on “hallyu” or the Korean wave was officially launched Wednesday, with the nation’s lawmakers looking to further expand the popularity of Korean cultural content.

The committee will be jointly led by Rep. Park Byeong-seug of the main opposition Democratic Party, who is also the deputy speaker at the National Assembly, and Rep. Chung Byung-gook of the ruling Saenuri Party who was also former culture minister. Also attending the launching ceremony were Foreign Minister Yoon Byung-se, Culture Minister Yoo Jin-ryong and about 40 ruling and opposition party members.

At the ceremony that doubled as policymaking debate and was held at the National Assembly building in Yeouido, Seoul, the participants sought ways to expand the meaning of “hallyu” to include all Korean content such as food, the alphabet “Hangeul” and traditional attire “Hanbok,” in addition to K-drama and K-pop.

The popularity of the Korean wave remains high despite skepticism, but is mainly fueled by K-pop boy and girl groups and Korean dramas.