Taking “Hallyu” (the Korean Wave) as the core analytical perspective, this study systematically explores the development logic, practical strategies, and global impacts of South Korea’s cultural diplomacy and public diplomacy, providing a typical case for research on the integration of culture and diplomacy. The research combs the transformation context from the emergence of the “culture-as-a-nation-building” strategy in the late 1990s to the realization of the shift from a “cultural importer” to a “cultural exporter” relying on Hallyu in the 21st century. It focuses on analyzing the multidimensional strategy system featuring government leadership, enterprise participation, and civil society collaboration: the government establishes a top-level policy framework, enterprises promote the cross-border export of cultural products through market-oriented operations, and civil society forms a spontaneous communication network via fan communities and social media. The study reveals Hallyu’s unique value in national image building, cross-cultural communication, and the driving of related industries. Meanwhile, it identifies three core challenges: communication barriers caused by cultural differences, insufficient content innovation, and intensifying global cultural competition. Finally, it extracts practical insights and proposes that China can draw on South Korea’s experiences in integrating policies with the market, combining cultural symbols with modern communication, and coordinating official and civil efforts, to provide a path reference for the upgrading of China’s cultural industry and the construction of international communication capacity.
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Share and Cite
Yue, Y. (2025) The Strategic Innovation and Global Impact of South Korean Cultural Diplomacy and Public Diplomacy Driven by the Hallyu. Journal of Social Development and History, 1(5), 1-18.