効果上げる韓国のコンテンツ産業振興策
Another “hanryu” (Korean boom) is spreading throughout Japan. The influential Chosun Ilbo reported last November, “A third Korean boom is going on in Japan.” The first boom was triggered in 2003 by the explosive popularity of TV drama Winter Sonata, followed by the second one in 2010-2011 which was kicked off by a rage of Korean pop music dubbed as “K-POP”.
日本に再び韓流ブームが波及した。昨年１１月、韓国、朝鮮日報は「日本で第３の韓流ブームが起こっている」と報じた。２００３年のテレビドラマ「冬のソナタ」の爆発的人気で始まった日本での韓流ブーム。１０～１１年頃の主として大衆音楽「Ｋ－ＰＯＰ」の大流行による第２次ブームに続くブームというわけだ。
A Japanese dictionary defines hanryu as “a furor of Korean pop culture that has hit East Asia”. In the first boom that began in Japan with Winter Sonata, Bae Yong-joon, the leading actor in the drama series, generated wildly enthusiastic fans among middle-aged and elderly women. K-POP in the second boom won over younger generations in Japan. It became so popular that Korean girl singer groups KARA and Girls’ Generation were invited to perform in NHK’s Kohaku Utagassen, the celebrated annual year-end song festival. Korean food like cheese dakgalbi which became something of a fad in Japan last year, is certainly playing a part in the latest boom, which was sparked by Korean-made cosmetics.
そもそも「韓流」とは、国語辞典によると、「東アジアに起こった韓国大衆文化の流行を意味する言葉」だという。その韓流ブームは「冬のソナタ」に始まり、主役のペ・ヨンジュンが日本の中高年女性らを中心に熱狂的なファンを生み、Ｋ－ＰＯＰは女性グループの「ＫＡＲＡ」「少女時代」が若者らに支持され、紅白歌合戦にも出場した。化粧品が“火付け役”となった今回のブームでは昨年、日本で人気を博した「チーズタッカルビ」など韓国料理も一役買っている。
The development of the Korean pop culture, including music, drama, movie and food, is supported by the growth of the country’s content industry. According to the Japanese trend information magazine Nikkei Entertainment, the Asian currency crisis in 1997 threw Korea into economic doldrums, forcing the government to map out a far-reaching reconstruction strategy, which included promotion of the culture industry. Under this policy, a faculty of utility music and a faculty of video were newly set up at various universities along with many vocational colleges. They have successfully nurtured leaders who are now active in K-POP and TV drama. According to data made available in March 2017 by Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism and Korea Creative Content Agency, the content industry’s annual sales totaled a record 100,486.3 billion won (about ￥10.36 trillion) in 2015, proving that the government’s promotion of the culture industry has produced a great result.
このような音楽、ドラマ、映画、料理を含む大衆文化の発展には、それを支えるコンテンツ産業の成長がある。流行情報誌「日経エンターテイメント」によると、１９９７年のアジア通貨危機により韓国が経済困難に陥り、再建の戦略を立てたが、その１つが文化産業振興だった。韓国の各地大学に実用音楽科や映像学科が設置された。また専門学校も多数設立され、Ｋ－ＰＯＰやテレビドラマなどの担い手が育ったのである。
韓国文化体育観光部と韓国コンテンツ振興院が昨年３月に発表した調査結果によると、２０１５年のコンテンツ産業の売上高は過去最高の１００兆４８６３億ウォン（約１０兆３６億円）を記録した。政府の文化産業振興策が大きな効果をあげている証拠でもある。
Speaking of the Korean cosmetics industry, Japan used to be its third-biggest market after the United States and China. Now, “K-Beauty”, the collective term of Korean cosmetic products, is said to be regaining popularity in Japan. According to data released by the Cosmetic Importers Association of Japan (CIAJ), Japanese imports of Korean cosmetics totaled ￥2.68 billion in the January-September period of 2017, up 10.5% from the same period a year ago. Imports of skin-care products, at ￥10 billion worth, were up 14.6%.
韓国製化粧品にとって、もともと日本は米国、中国に次ぐ世界３位の化粧品市場だった。そして今、その韓国化粧品「Ｋビューティー」が新たに人気を呼んでいるという。日本輸入化粧品協会（ＣＩＡＪ）のまとめによると、昨年１～９月の韓国化粧品輸入額は前年同期比１０・５％増の２６億８０００万円。スキンケア製品は同１４・６％増の１００億円を記録した。
Besides cosmetics, K-POP singer groups TWICE and BLACKPINK are enjoying popularity in the current boom. Korean-style cafes also seem to be catching the eyes of many Japanese customers. Those colorfully decorated shops serve colorful dishes.
このほか今回のブームでは、女性グループ「ＴＷＩＣＥ」や「ＢＬＡＣＫＰＩＮＫ」などのＫ－ＰＯＰも人気を博している。また、韓国風カフェも多くの客を集めているようだ。店内がカラフルで、料理も色鮮やかなのが特徴。
The third Korean boom is likely to stay for a while.
(Written by: Yuto Yawata)
第３次韓流ブームは今後も続いていきそうだ。(八幡侑斗)