The purpose of this study is to examine whether, amid the transition from traditional public diplomacy to new public diplomacy (NPD), the cultural diplomacy of South Korea and Japan has exhibited the characteristics of NPD since 2010 and, accordin...
The purpose of this study is to examine whether, amid the transition from traditional public diplomacy to new public diplomacy (NPD), the cultural diplomacy of South Korea and Japan has exhibited the characteristics of NPD since 2010 and, accordingly, how the patterns of diffusion of their national cultures have changed.
The analysis covers the period from the 1990s to the early 2020s and considers as diplomatic actors government ministries and affiliated agencies, local governments, and the private sector in both countries. The empirical focus is on each country’s flagship cultural industries—music, film, and television drama in South Korea, and manga and animation in Japan—drawing on official documents, research reports, books, academic articles, magazines, newspapers, and online materials.
The results of the study are as follows.
The first research question is whether the cultural diplomacy of South Korea and Japan exhibits the characteristics of NPD. The results indicate that both countries recognized the importance of NPD, incorporated it into the goals and strategies of cultural diplomacy, and reorganized or reinforced their implementation systems. However, in actual practice, whereas South Korea reflected all four characteristics of NPD—diversification of actors, use of new media, shifts in modes of communication (toward more horizontal, two-way, and symmetrical communication), and engagement with global agendas—Japan, apart from diversifying actors, did not substantively incorporate the remaining three.
The second research question is: What patterns have emerged in the diffusion of South Korea’s and Japan’s national cultures through the conduct of cultural diplomacy? Prior to 2010, South Korea’s cultural diffusion was largely Asia-centered and exhibited relatively low persistence and stability; after 2010, however, it expanded worldwide, experienced explosive growth, consolidated a firm foothold, and assumed cultural leadership. By contrast, although Japan has consistently produced globally recognized works since the 1990s, a range of issues in cultural content and the cultural industries surfaced after 2010. Consequently, while the geographic scope of its cultural diffusion broadened, Japan’s diffusion remained constrained in terms of audience receptivity, persistence, and stability.
The study finds that the characteristics of NPD are becoming necessary conditions in the practice of cultural diplomacy. Accordingly, it proposes the following measures to embed NPD characteristics and to enhance cultural diplomacy. First, the importance of public–private collaboration should be recognized, and such collaboration should be expanded. Second, modes of public–private collaboration that respect private-sector autonomy and enhance creativity are needed. Third, it is necessary to anticipate and prepare for the continuing evolution of communication modalities.