Thailand is gripped by a real Korean pop fever. The country's young people dream of K-pop fame, and the government is vigorously promoting the growth of the national entertainment industry.
Korean pop culture is booming in Thailand
Korea is setting trends in modern Thailand. Korean TV series and songs, fashion and food are mega popular among Thai youth.
More and more young Thais want to become celebrities in the K-pop genre. They are actively learning dance, vocal and acting skills. There is a growing demand for learning Korean language.
The success of Lalisa Manoban, a native of Thailand and member of the band Blackpink, has played a huge role in popularizing Korean culture. Her solo hits are breaking records and every appearance of the diva in public causes excitement among her fans.
Inspired by Lalisa's example, other Korean groups that include Thais have gained popularity in Thailand. At the end of the year, a new female group Baby Monster with two members from the Kingdom of Thailand will debut.
Over the past 10 years, ticket prices for K-pop groups' concerts in Thailand have increased 9 times. Now their average price is about 125 US dollars.
Support of the national entertainment industry by the authorities
The success of Korean pop culture has made the Thai authorities become more active. Now they are vigorously encouraging the growth of their own entertainment industry to replicate the K-pop furor.
Silpakorn State University in Bangkok has launched a new department to train showbiz personalities. It teaches vocals, dance, acting and SMM.
Thailand's ruling party has announced plans to create a ministry of entertainment, as in South Korea and Taiwan. This is intended to get the country out of the "middle-income trap".
The Thai showbiz industry is already famous in Asia for its laconic TV series and movies. Now the government intends to channel resources into creating content that reflects local identity.
Experts emphasize that the key to success is not to copy others' achievements, but to develop Thailand's strengths.
Author of the article: Ekaterina Antonova
