THE EFFECTS OF KOREAN FASHION TO THE FILIPINO YOUTH

A Research Paper

As a partial fulfillment of the requirements in English IV

Ilocos Norte College of Arts and Trades
Laoag City

MERRY KAY V. YRAWDA

IV - Saturn

November 2013
 THE EFFECTS OF KOREAN FASHION TO THE FILIPINO YOUTH

INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
In the advent of the Korean craze in the Philippines, the Filipino youth was affected in a
great extent. The rising popularity of Korean Culture throughout the world is called Korean Wave.
The Korean popular culture which spread mainly through the mass media is now enjoying high
popularity outside Korea and this is how the Korean Wave occurs (Yu,2008). The phenomenal
Korean sensation is describe from another term called Hallyu, this is a Korean pronunciation of
Korean Wave which is defined by Korean Tourism Organization (2004) as the recent cultural
phenomenon of South Korean pop culture sweeping throughout the world (Kim & Ryoo,
2007). Korean Wave (Hallyu) mainly consists of television dramas, film, pop music, movie stars
animation and comics including mobile content like cell phones and iPods, video or computer
games, as well as the latest fashion, food, home appliances and cosmetics, assertively expanding
to things like dance, sculpture, painting, cuisine, plastic surgery, tourism and language
(http://jakartapost.com/). This paper will not focus on the Korean Wave effect in Filipino Youth's
preference in music, television dramas but will only be limited in their taste of fashion.

The new generation today is different and they are easily captured to the things around
them. The youth are exposed to the different kinds and genres of music, television dramas and
also in their taste of fashion. Now and then, the taste of music, movies and fashion has been
changed, improved and made more exciting in the eyes of the Filipino youth. From schools, malls,
stores, jeepneys and even to recreational places such as parks and also to tourist places, the
effects of Korean Wave in the Filipino especially to the Filipino Youth are widespread. You can
notice that students are listening and singing songs in different language, that is, the Korean
language even though they don’t know the meaning of it. They talk about their favorite Korean
dramas then admire the actors and actresses in the movie and sometimes impersonate their looks
which greatly affected the fashion statement of the Filipino youth.

Korean fashion is a big hit to Filipinos, especially to the youth, they tried to copy Korean
star by wearing hip and chic Korean fashion trend. Although some clothes are not suitable to our
country’s warm climate they still wear it and matched it up with different accessories from head to
toe, that is, from large colorful sunglasses to huge edgy shoes. K-pop popularized high-heel
shoes, sleeveless tops and fashionable accessories, short shorts, and boots. Few years ago
Filipinos bought their Korean outfits and accessories online but today some department store,
boutique, fancy store, and clothing shops have Korean inspired clothing designs ranging from
basic casual items to stylish items for trend-conscious consumers.
 To add some background, there will be surveys containing gathered information to
distinguish the respondents (male and female students of the Marcos National High School –
Agunit Campus) view toward Korean Wave as well as their outlook as a Filipino. This would serve
as support to the current research study.

Objectives of the Study

1. To determine the Filipino Youth's preference for Korean Wave particularly in the
latest fashion trends;
2. To know how Korean Wave affects the taste of Filipino Youth with regards to their
culture;
3. Aims to understand the bad effects of South Korean culture to the youths through
its cultural exports in the Philippines;

Significance of the Study

This study will be helpful to analyze the occurrence of Korean Wave throughout the world
and its implications for cultural influence on neighboring countries like the Philippines. In addition,
this study examine how national identity impacts framing processes related to media coverage
and public response (Lee,2011). This study will provide brief description on the various
significance of the study about the infectious spread of Korean popular culture throughout the
world given three categories: dramatic television series, music and the choice of fashion.

Scope and Delimitations

This study will only be limited to the Korean wave effects to the fashion preferences of the
Filipino youth. It will not focus the effects on the Philippine music and television series but may be
discuss in one way or another. The respondents will be students of a national high school which
deemed a representative of the Filipino youth nowadays.

METHODOLOGY
Research Design

This study made use of the descriptive research method because this involves the
description, recording, analysis and interpretation of conditions that now exist. It is the aim of this
research to determine how the Korean fashion affects the Filipino youth nowadays. To be able to
do so, a descriptive research was used in analyzing the information gathered by using appropriate
statistical procedures in order to arrive at a meaningful information.
Population of the Study

In this study, it cover high school students as its respondents. Fifty (50) students of Marcos
National High School – Agunit Campus were selected to answer the questionnaire. Herein, the
respondents were given 20 minutes to complete the questionnaire upon request. After collecting
the questionnaires, the responses were tallied, computed, analyzed, and recorded.

Data Gathering Tools

Two gathering tools were used which will yield two data that will also be used: the primary
and the secondary data. The primary data were derived from the answers respondents gave in
the first data gathering tool – a formulated questionnaire. The secondary data on the other hand,
were derived from the findings stated in the second data gathering tool, published documents and
literatures related to the research problem. The survey questionnaire was used as the primary
data gathering instrument for this study.

PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

Table 1
Status and Addiction of the Respondents
Gender/Korean Low High Total
Addiction
Male 14 4 18
Female 9 23 32
Total 23 27 50

Based on the table above, there are more female respondents than male respondents.
For male respondents, they have low addiction to Korean fashion. Only 4 male respondents have
high Korean addiction. Female students have high addiction to Korean fashion. Twenty-three out
of 32 female respondents answered they have high addiction to Korean fashion. It is to be noted
that more females are more captivated to Korean fashion than males.

Table 2
Responses of the Respondents
Effects of Korean Fashion Mean
 1. I wear Korean clothes in school every day. 4.13
2. I am more comfortable when I’m wearing Korean clothes. 3.56
3. It is more acceptable to wear Korean clothes because it is the trend 3.15
(sunod sa uso).
4. I am ashamed of being a Filipino so I resorted to dress and look like 1.00
a Korean.
5. I love Korean television series so my fashion statement changed to 4.34
Korean style.
6. I am fond of listening to Korean music which resulted to my addiction 4.12
to Korean clothes.
7. I go shiver when I see cute Korean actors and actresses. 3.40
8. I don’t like to wear Korean fashion because it will make me look crazy 2.30
and stupid.
9. I love to dress like a Korean, live like a Korean, and sound like a 1.40
Korean.
10. I respect the Korean fashion trend but the Filipino culture and the 5.00
Filipino way I dress still runs in me.

Based on the table above, the last statement resulted in a perfect 5.00 mean. On the other
hand, statement no. 4, “I am ashamed of being a Filipino so I resorted to dress and look like a
Korean” got the lowest mean of 1.00.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

For the recent years the Philippine entertainment scene has been dominated by Korean
cultural products such as television dramas, pop songs, and even the style of fashion of Korea.
When the Philippine Television started adapting Koreanovelas, there’s no doubt that it gained
immense popularity among Filipinos. The Koreanovelas caught the attention of Filipinos because
it bring something fresh and new in the Philippine TV. In response to the Filipinos growing
addiction towards K-Pop, Philippine Music Industry also make their own K-Pop group version.
Like “Pop Girls” who followed who followed the concept of K-Pop girl group and “XLR8” A K-Pop
male group version in our country. This make a variety of reaction from the Filipino audiences,
especially Filipino K- Pop fans. Some have negative reaction about another “copy”, while some
felt glad about the brave move of the Philippine music industry.
 The Filipinos fans not only developed an interest in the Koreanovelas or K-Pop music but
also the likeness towards the Korean fashion. This Korean fashion trend exploded among the
students who love to be hip and chic and “In” with the new. Even sometimes they may look weird,
as long as they tried to imitate the Korean hair,clothing style and shoes.

Because of the attitude of the Filipinos that is easily to be influenced of foreign marketing,
the Korean Culture products poses a negative effect on the Philippine entertainment industry
since it is a threat to the local entertainment since and to the Filipino identity in its own cultural
products. Perhaps the Philippines can learn from Korea in this sense. There is nothing wrong if
we like things or culture from foreign country but we don’t have to forget that we are still Filipinos
and we have to support the products (Music, Fashion, Shows) of our own country.

References

Daquioag, S.H. Assessing the Korean taste and preferences in the Philippine market. Saint
Louis University, Baguio City. Undergraduate term paper.

Kim, J. & Ryu, H. Phenomenology of Korean Pop Culture Fandom in the Philippines. Retrieved
from qualire2012a52.wordpress.com/phenomenology-of-korean-pop-culture

Meinardus, R. The Korean Wave in the Philippines. The Liberal Opinion. December 15, 2005.
Retrieved from www.fnf.org.ph/liberalopinion/korean-wave-in-the-philippines.htm

Yu, F. Conquering the Universe through Korean Hallyu. Korean Herald Newspaper. 2002

Internet sources:

foryouinfullblossom.wordpress.com/korean_wave/

www.philstar.com/supreme/2012/09/29/853923/k-pop-here-stay

www.rappler.com/entertainment/12681-hallyu-growing-in-ph

hallyuandthephilippines.tumblr.com/

www.bworldonline.com/weekender/content.php?id=58793

www.philstar.com/letters.../exploring-possibility-philippine-korean-wave