During the first lecture, Professor Kim asks what the “Korean Wave” means to you. I thought about it. As a Korean-American who has been living here in US for 20 years, there has never been any other days or times that I felt proud of K-pop and our culture more than I do now. Call me crazy, but the wild growth of Hallyu has affected me on a very personal level; I can be more of myself. I don’t try to be someone else since I’m proud of myself and my origin. The Hallyu has provided me with higher self-esteem. There were many times that I was reluctant to talk about my Korean side because not many people knew about Korean and Kpop, and it took me forever to explain my Korean background and culture since I had to start from where Korea is located and we are not China,Japan, Vietnam,and so on and so forth. Now, on the other hand, people come to me. I feel the power of the “Soft Power” of Hallyu every time my non-Korean friends approach me and share their experiences with K Pop here and there. Yes, it is rather a tsunami to me. Thank you, Hallyu.
