East Asia’s cultural economies are bridging politics-driven divides
The appearance of K-pop singer G-Dragon on electronic billboards in major Chinese cities despite Beijing’s K-pop ban points at a contrast between political shadows clouding international relations and actual commercial linkages in East Asia. Amid tensions over Seoul’s military alliance with the United States and other issues, G-Dragon featured in eight McDonald’s products across more than 8,000…
K-pop star G-Dragon recently appeared on electronic billboards in Chinese cities, despite China's ban on K-pop, highlighting the contrast between political tensions and commercial connections in East Asia. The spread of Korean cultural symbols, such as G-Dragon and McDonald's products, demonstrates how international consumer demand for cultural goods can create opportunities beyond conventional diplomacy.
East Asian countries are experiencing growing interest in cross-border television shows, films, video games, food, and tourist destinations, which not only generate profits and jobs but also help bridge political divides through cultural consumerism, a vital economic ecosystem.
In Japan and South Korea, cultural ties have persisted despite longstanding disputes. The Japanese animated film "Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island" topped South Korea's box office, accounting for 42.7 percent of ticket revenue and more than 1.8 million admissions in its first three weeks. Similarly, the anime series "Jujutsu Kaisen" topped seven of eight tracked Asian markets in the first half of the year, and its popularity on Asian streaming platforms surged nine times faster than the overall service growth.
In South Korea, over 15 million international visitors arrived between January and August, with Chinese visitors representing the largest portion of spending. To cater to Chinese tourists, the country's duty-free shops provided discounts and perks during the National Day "golden week" holiday, as South Korea topped the list of destinations for Chinese overseas travelers.
As cultural consumerism grows in East Asia, it also boosts digital e-commerce, which in turn positively impacts telecommunications, retail, and logistics sectors. For China, approximately 90 percent of retail executives believe AI will positively affect commercial operations, with AI shopping assistants, virtual shopping experiences, and tourism applications becoming more prevalent.
The economic benefits of cultural consumerism extend to hosting performing artists on tour and retail stores displaying cultural artifacts, which can further stimulate domestic economies.
Despite political tensions and official boycotts, East Asian cultural economies demonstrate that boosting consumer demand, increasing business confidence, and promoting investments can foster a people-centered economic ecosystem anchored in cultural exchanges. Officials should consider supporting the growth of production houses, protecting cultural property rights, easing tourism restrictions, and implementing development planning models that offer licensing agreements and intellectual property rights protection.
These measures will help ensure the resilience of East Asian cultural economies and their ability to generate revenue and foster prosperity amid global challenges.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
