Social and Political Data Science: Introduction

Moderator: Karl Ho

University of Texas at Dallas

K-Diplomacy:

Soft Power, Global Impact

A World Affairs Council Dallas Fort Worth event, October 12, 2023

Speakers:

Jenna Gibson, University of Chicago
Suk-Young Kim, University of California

Karl Ho is:
- Professor of Instruction at University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences (EPPS)
- Co-founder of the UTD Social Data Analytics and Research program (SDAR)
- Founder of DataGeneration.org
- Author of Data Programming
- Co-Principal Investigator of the Hong Kong Election Study project
- Website: karlho.com (talks, lecture, publications)

Moderator bio.

Source: Forbes India

Soft power:

"the ability to get what you want through
attraction (rather than coercion or payment) that arises from the attractive
ness of a country’s culture, ideals, or policies"

(Nye, 2004: X).

Questions:

South Korea is one of the top powers in the world. When it comes to pop culture, it could be even higher like top three or four. Why and how K-pop rises to its ubiquity now?

Questions:

How have you seen Western Publics change their coverage of K-pop and Korea in general since your analysis in 2019?

Questions:

Do you believe a fifth stage in K-pop coverage has begun since your analysis in
2019?

Questions:

In what ways Korean soft power can be transcending to areas on diplomacy and foreign policies in big nations like US and China? What are the contextual conditions?

Questions:

How do you feel about K-POP becoming more multiethnic in its casting of stars?

Questions:

Not to deemphasize K-pop, South Korea actually excels in other realms and industries: semiconductors, automobiles, military, telecommunications. Can you explain the national character part that drives the nation's current success?

Questions:

What are your thoughts on other cultures and countries taking tips from Korean
dramas and music and using them in their own work?

Questions:

International Military alliances are beefing up and expanding, large countries are at
war with smaller ones, world orders are shifting, and it seems military and nuclear
strengths is becoming the pinnacle of power. Are we losing our diplomatic skillsets?

Questions:

Where do you see room for displays of soft power on the world stage?

Questions:

Often, a nation’s cultural influence are not primarily controlled by the government, but a result of popular culture shaped by everyday citizens. In what ways is soft power a natural occurrence?

Questions:

What does a country’s successful use of soft power say about the relationship between government and its citizens?

Questions:

Korea is a great example of the use of both soft and hard power to will itself to
democracy and economic development. To what degree does the overuse of hard
power lead to the lack of economic, academic, and diplomatic competition among countries?

Questions:

How do you see Korea’s use of ‘smart’ and soft power, and subsequent global
influence impact the image of Korea’s enemies?

Questions:

To what degree does the employment of soft power compromise the sacredness of country's culture

Questions:

Given the popularity of K-pop music, Korean beauty and self-care practices, and
unique style of K-drama TV and film, how do you relate this to Korea’s influence’s
on foreign policy? Has it proven effective?

Questions:

What is your perspective on the growing Asian hate and resentment in the United
States as a result of COVID-19 misinformation?

K-Diplomacy:

Soft Power, Global Impact

Speakers:

Jenna Gibson, University of Chicago Suk-Young Kim, University of California

Karl Ho is:

Moderator bio.

Soft power:

"the ability to get what you want through attraction (rather than coercion or payment) that arises from the attractive ness of a country’s culture, ideals, or policies"

(Nye, 2004: X).

Questions:

South Korea is one of the top powers in the world. When it comes to pop culture, it could be even higher like top three or four. Why and how K-pop rises to its ubiquity now?

Questions:

How have you seen Western Publics change their coverage of K-pop and Korea in general since your analysis in 2019?

Questions:

Do you believe a fifth stage in K-pop coverage has begun since your analysis in 2019?

Questions:

In what ways Korean soft power can be transcending to areas on diplomacy and foreign policies in big nations like US and China? What are the contextual conditions?

Questions:

How do you feel about K-POP becoming more multiethnic in its casting of stars?

Questions:

Not to deemphasize K-pop, South Korea actually excels in other realms and industries: semiconductors, automobiles, military, telecommunications. Can you explain the national character part that drives the nation's current success?

Questions:

What are your thoughts on other cultures and countries taking tips from Korean dramas and music and using them in their own work?

Questions:

International Military alliances are beefing up and expanding, large countries are at war with smaller ones, world orders are shifting, and it seems military and nuclear strengths is becoming the pinnacle of power. Are we losing our diplomatic skillsets?

Questions:

Where do you see room for displays of soft power on the world stage?

Questions:

Often, a nation’s cultural influence are not primarily controlled by the government, but a result of popular culture shaped by everyday citizens. In what ways is soft power a natural occurrence?

Questions:

What does a country’s successful use of soft power say about the relationship between government and its citizens?

Questions:

Korea is a great example of the use of both soft and hard power to will itself to democracy and economic development. To what degree does the overuse of hard power lead to the lack of economic, academic, and diplomatic competition among countries?

Questions:

How do you see Korea’s use of ‘smart’ and soft power, and subsequent global influence impact the image of Korea’s enemies?

Questions:

To what degree does the employment of soft power compromise the sacredness of country's culture

Questions:

Given the popularity of K-pop music, Korean beauty and self-care practices, and unique style of K-drama TV and film, how do you relate this to Korea’s influence’s on foreign policy? Has it proven effective?

Questions:

What is your perspective on the growing Asian hate and resentment in the United States as a result of COVID-19 misinformation?

Questions:

Thank you!

Talk: K-Diplomacy: Soft power, Global Impact

More from Karl Ho

Jenna Gibson, University of Chicago
Suk-Young Kim, University of California

"the ability to get what you want through
attraction (rather than coercion or payment) that arises from the attractive
ness of a country’s culture, ideals, or policies"

Do you believe a fifth stage in K-pop coverage has begun since your analysis in
2019?

What are your thoughts on other cultures and countries taking tips from Korean
dramas and music and using them in their own work?

International Military alliances are beefing up and expanding, large countries are at
war with smaller ones, world orders are shifting, and it seems military and nuclear
strengths is becoming the pinnacle of power. Are we losing our diplomatic skillsets?

Korea is a great example of the use of both soft and hard power to will itself to
democracy and economic development. To what degree does the overuse of hard
power lead to the lack of economic, academic, and diplomatic competition among countries?

How do you see Korea’s use of ‘smart’ and soft power, and subsequent global
influence impact the image of Korea’s enemies?

Given the popularity of K-pop music, Korean beauty and self-care practices, and
unique style of K-drama TV and film, how do you relate this to Korea’s influence’s
on foreign policy? Has it proven effective?

What is your perspective on the growing Asian hate and resentment in the United
States as a result of COVID-19 misinformation?