General Guidance for K-Culture Studies

Welcome to the final episode of K-Culture Studies. In this episode, we will discuss the unique characteristics of South Korean social media platforms such as Naver and Kakao, and their impressive success in the local market, outpacing large tech companies from the US and China.

These platforms are more commonly referred to as “portal services” in South Korea because they originally consolidated several web pages in the late 1990s to improve the user experience. Despite the growing trend towards using smartphones to access the digital landscape, they continue to hold a significant presence not just in South Korea but also in other East Asian countries like Japan. In this context, we will also examine their impact on consumer goods and services as “super apps,” as well as the broader implications for the global digital economy.

By the end of this episode, you will gain a deeper understanding of how South Korean social media platforms have shaped the K-platform economy and influenced the global digital landscape.

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

1. The Global Digital Economy;
2. The Growth of South Korean Web Culture and Economy;
3. The Emergence of Superapps in South Korea

By the end of this episode, you will:

1. Explore the unique characteristics of South Korean web culture and economy;
2. Understand the impact of indigenous portals on the global digital economy;
3. Learn about the rise of superapps in South Korea and their effect on consumer goods and services.