"This Is the Power of Culture...
Content Is Our Strength"
Former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, Lee Jae-myung, shared his thoughts after watching the popular Netflix drama series 'Poksak Soksassuda.' He said, "I cried a lot" and added, "Even when I tried to hold back, I couldn't escape the feeling of empathy."
In a special talk released on June 15 on the YouTube channel 'People Living in the World, Roh Moo-hyun Foundation,' Lee emphasized, "This is the power of our culture." During the discussion, writer Yoo Si-min asked Lee, "What do you think our country looks like now, and where should it be headed?" to which Lee responded, "The cultural content sector is our greatest strength."
He continued, "Our country may not conquer the world through military force or wealth, but we can lead the world through culture," adding, "That is why I think Baekbeom Kim Gu was great."
Lee also mentioned 'soft power.' He said, "The whole world is experiencing a crisis of democracy, but we have overcome it," emphasizing, "K-democracy is not just an event but part of a great history. Countries around the world will look to South Korea as a model."
Soft power is a concept coined by Joseph Nye, a political scientist at Harvard University, referring to cultural and institutional strengths that make other countries voluntarily follow. It is often translated as 'soft power' because it gains benefits through attraction rather than coercion.
Former Lee Jae-myung, former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, appeared on the People’s Life Foundation YouTube channel. YouTube capture
Earlier, at a press conference on June 11 where he announced his candidacy and vision, Lee also stressed the importance of soft power. In particular, he presented the 'K-Initiative,' encompassing Hallyu and K-democracy, as a national vision, stating, "From the perspective of soft power, we can lead the world in various fields."
Meanwhile, the drama 'Poksak Soksassuda' mentioned by Lee was released on Netflix last month as a historical drama starring actors Park Bo-gum, Moon So-ri, IU, and Park Hae-joon. The title 'Poksak Soksassuda' is a Jeju dialect phrase meaning 'Thank you very much for your hard work.' According to Netflix, the drama recorded a total of 5.4 million views from May 31 to June 6, ranking first in the global top 10 non-English TV shows category.
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