Un Certain Regard on Hallyu 

Kim Koo’s Desire and Martin Luther King Jr.’s Dream

 

This essay is an excerpt from my forthcoming book, 33 Keys to Understanding the Korean Wave: Beyond BTS, Parasite, and Squid Game, which will be published on May 5, 2025. The title borrows from the French phrase Un Certain Regard—famously used at the Cannes Film Festival to recognize works that offer a unique vision or a distinct point of view. In that spirit, this reflection offers a quiet lens through which to view Hallyu—not as spectacle, but as a story still unfolding.

 

By Sukie Park*

 

*한류에 대한 주목할만한 시선: 백범 김구의 소원과 마틴 루터 킹의 꿈

https://www.nyculturebeat.com/?mid=Focus&document_srl=4148431 

 

Korean culture showcased at the American Museum of Natural History in New York./ Baekbeom Kim Koo.

 

As Hallyu continues to ripple across continents, it becomes clear that its significance lies not only in entertainment or influence, but in something more enduring: a vision of cultural dignity shaped by history, and guided by hope.

 

The rise of the Korean Wave is more than a cultural success story—it is the unfolding of a dream once imagined by two men who never met, yet whose ideals resonate across time and geography. Baekbeom Kim Koo (1876–1949), Korea’s revered independence leader, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968), the voice of America’s civil rights movement, both envisioned a world where the true strength of a nation is measured not by military might or economic power, but by its moral imagination—by the ability of its culture to uplift, unite, and inspire.

 

Though separated by oceans and shaped by distinct struggles, the two shared a profound truth: that human dignity is an inalienable right, and that culture is its most eloquent and enduring defender. Their visions continue to inspire, reminding us that lasting power lies not in domination, but in the capacity of a nation's culture to foster empathy, peace, and shared humanity.

 

 

 

In his 1947 essay The Nation That I Desire, written just two years before his assassination, Kim Koo expressed this vision with quiet clarity:

 

"I want our nation to become the most beautiful nation in the world.. I do not want our nation to become the richest and powerful nation in the world. Because I have felt the pain of being invaded by another nation. I do not want my nation to invade others. It is sufficient that our wealth is such that it makes our lives abundant and our military strength such that it is able to repel others' invasion. The only thing that I desire in infinite quantity is the power of a highly-developed culture. This is because the power of culture both makes ourselves happy and gives happiness to others."

— Kim Koo, Diary of Baekbeom (1947)

 

It is a remarkable passage—one that speaks not only to post-colonial healing, but to a philosophy of nationhood rooted in peace, not conquest; in creation, not control.

 

Likewise, in his historic “I Have a Dream” speech on August 28, 1963, Dr. King articulated a parallel vision—of a nation guided by principle, not prejudice:

 

“Although we face difficulties today and tomorrow, I still have a dream… that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed… A day when my four little children will be judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”

— Martin Luther King Jr., “I Have a Dream” (1963)

 

King’s dream, like Kim’s desire, centered not on power but on justice. Not on status, but on soul. It called for a culture that affirms dignity, celebrates difference, and transforms pain into purpose—beauty with conscience, art with heart.

 

"These twin visions now echo in unexpected places: K-Pop anthems in sold-out arenas, the stillness of a Korean drama, the surreal lyricism of Parasite, and the global pull of Squid Game. The Korean Wave isn’t just a trend—it’s a living expression of these ideals, a movement that celebrates creativity, nurtures connection, and makes space for both joy and justice.

 

As Hallyu continues to evolve, we are invited to reflect:

• Is Korea now being seen beyond old stereotypes—as a global cultural leader in its own right?

• Could Hallyu offer an emerging alternative to the American dream—one defined not by dominance, but by imagination, empathy, and shared story?

 

At its heart, the Korean Wave embodies Kim Koo’s enduring belief in the power of culture to heal and uplift. It echoes Dr. King’s dream of a world where people are valued not for their origins, but for their spirit. More than a national achievement, Hallyu has become a global aspiration: a vision of cultural dignity born from struggle, shaped by resilience, and carried forward by hope—a reminder that even in the face of injustice, the human spirit dances, dreams, and creates.

 

 

Korean Wave: A Global Dream

 

On February 9, 2020, at the 92nd Academy Awards, the Parasite team celebrates on stage after winning Best Picture. Image: ABC-TV capture.

Once devastated by war and long subject to cultural marginalization, Korea has emerged as a global symbol of resilience and creativity. Today, millions around the world embrace Korean culture. Beyond the global milestones of BTS, Parasite, and Squid Game, Korean excellence is now recognized across literature and the arts, classical music and ballet, cuisine and fashion, beauty, golf, and more.

 

What began as a modest resurgence has grown into something volcanic—vibrant, disruptive, and alive with innovation. Seoul is rising as a global cultural capital. Could it one day stand alongside Renaissance Florence, 19th-century Paris, or postwar New York as a beacon of artistic and intellectual creativity?

 

The Korean Wave is no longer a fleeting trend. It is reshaping global narratives, placing Korea at the center of cultural imagination. This evolution—dynamic and far-reaching—is a testament to the enduring power of vision and creativity. Rooted in national resilience and carried forward through global connection, Hallyu reimagines what cultural leadership can look like in our time.

 

Yet its meaning goes beyond entertainment or acclaim. At its heart, this movement reflects values of unity, empathy, and expression. Echoing the hopes of past visionaries, the Korean Wave offers a cultural rhythm that transcends borders and invites collaboration. Amid the noise of a fractured world, it reveals the quiet power of storytelling to restore meaning and connection.

 

The journey is still unfolding. As Seoul’s voice rises gently on the world stage, the nation continues to shape the future of global culture—not through dominance, but through imagination.

 

The Korean Wave is not just a phenomenon. It is a movement, a dream quietly spreading across borders—one that offers not a map, but a set of keys—33 in all—to help us better understand Korea, and perhaps, each other.

 

 

*Sukie Park is a New York-based journalist and the founding editor of NYCultureBeat, a Korean-language platform that explores the intersections of art, culture, cuisine, and daily life in the city. Born in Korea and living in New York since 1996, she has been documenting the Korean Wave from its quiet stirrings to its global crescendo. Her forthcoming book, 33 Keys to Understanding the Korean Wave: Beyond BTS, Parasite, and Squid Game, will be published on May 5, 2025.