Research Article
The Mediating Role of Cultural Content Products in the Korean Wave Diffusion Strategy in the Japanese Market
Published: January 2008 · Vol. 37, No. 7 · pp. 47-73
Full Text
Abstract
In the context of the recent slowdown of the Korean Wave (Hallyu), this study sought to explore strategies for revitalizing the Korean Wave by targeting consumers in Japan, the most profitable market among the countries that experienced the Hallyu phenomenon. This study empirically verified the flow from consumers' perception of Hallyu → favorable attitudes toward Hallyu → favorable evaluation of cultural content products → purchase intention for consumer goods in the Japanese market. The verification was conducted using representative cultural content products such as films, dramas, and DVDs, and the results are as follows. First, higher perception of Hallyu was found to enhance favorable attitudes toward Hallyu. Second, the image of Korean people showed no significant relationship with attitudes toward Hallyu. Third, the image of Korea was found to have a positive effect on attitudes toward Hallyu. Fourth, attitudes toward Hallyu were found to have a positive effect on both the image of cultural content products and attitudes toward cultural content products. Fifth, the image of cultural content products was found to have a positive effect on attitudes toward cultural content products and purchase intention. Sixth, attitudes toward cultural content products were found to increase purchase intention for cultural content products. Finally, attitudes toward cultural content products were found to have a positive effect on attitudes toward consumer goods. This study proposes multifaceted tactics and strategies for the diffusion and spillover of the Korean Wave, and predicts that if various cultural content products are developed based on these strategies to reach overseas consumers, this will ultimately contribute to increasing exports of consumer goods, which are Korea's key products.
