Over the past few decades, Japanese and Korean pop music, respectively known as J-Pop and K-Pop, has taken the rest of Asia and the world by storm. As a result, enthusiasm for the countries’ popular cultures has increased tremendously.
Globalisation of Japanese popular culture
Starting in the 1960s, Japan’s entertainment industry took off, with great leaps in animation, music, drama and electronic games paving the way for a thriving pop culture. In the 1990s, its international influence expanded rapidly with the spread of its animated shows, music, fashion, electronics and even motor vehicles, to every corner of the world.
Hong Kong was introduced to Japan’s popular culture in the 1970s. Local TV stations had just begun broadcasting, but lacked locally produced programmes, so they aired imported Japanese dramas. These turned out to be hugely popular, opening the door for a wave of other Japanese imports. The city’s own pop culture development, from music to film and comics, followed Japan’s footsteps to some extent. For example, when Hong Kong’s pop music scene peaked in the 1980s and 1990s, about 20-30% of all new Canto-pop songs were adaptations of Japanese songs.
The rise of the Korean wave
The Korean wave mimicked the Japanese pattern. Following the country's economic recovery in the 1990s, and the nations’ efforts to expand into overseas markets, Korean pop culture began to spread through TV dramas, movies, music, fashion, cars, electronics and mobile phones. In part due to the growing popularity of Internet media like Youtube, Korea's influence can now be felt in Asian countries, including mainland China, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam; Western countries such as the US, Britain and France; Eastern European countries like Romania; South American countries like Brazil and Peru; and even Islamic nations such as Iran.
Led by its movies, the Korean wave also swept into Hong Kong. In 2000, a number of Korean movies topped Hong Kong’s box office charts, ushering in an era of popular Korean TV dramas, stars, music groups and bands. In recent years, South Korea has also become a hot travel destination. Korean cosmetics and skincare products have become highly coveted by Hong Kong women, and the market share for Korean-made mobile phones is also on the rise. The fanbase for Korean culture in Hong Kong continues to grow.
In pursuit of Japanese and Korean trends
For students interested in learning more about Japanese and Korean trends, the School has introduced a range of programmes to help improve language skills while gaining deeper insights into the Japanese and Korean pop cultures.
During the school term, the School will arrange free tutorials for students before examinations to help them with their studies, as well as providing useful tips on learning Japanese and Korean. |
Related Programmes
 Introductory Japanese
Students can choose from two study modes: one lesson or two lessons per week.
Preparation Course for Foundation Certificate in Japanese
Suitable for students who have studied Japanese for over 60 hours. Upon completion of the course, students can proceed to the Foundation Certificate in Japanese programme.
Introductory Korean (Part 1)
One lesson a week
Foundation Certificate in Korean Culture
- Taught in Korean
- Students who have completed the Foundation Certificate in Korean or taken the TOPIK II (Test of Proficiency in Korean – level 2) with a score of 180 or above will have a good grasp of Korean culture, including K-Pop, Korean movies and cuisine.
(For further information, please call 3762 0820 or
email: jolang@hkuspace.hku.hk)
Korean Grammar Enhancement
Aims to help students master Korean grammar in practical use.
Learn online anytime, anywhere
To help students progress, the School has set up an online e-Learning platform, for its Japanese and Korean courses. In addition to teaching materials such as grammar and vocabulary tables, and comprehension passages (with audio features), teachers have also uploaded well-designed animations to present Japanese and Korean cultures in a vivid and engaging way. The School also brought e-Learning to the mobile platform by launching the SOUL 2.0 app last year, allowing students to revise, check vocabulary and learn grammar rules anytime, anywhere. |
日、韓流行音樂，一般稱為J Pop及K Pop，由80年代末開始，先後在亞洲及世界各地風行。由流行音樂的帶動，日、韓文化的追捧者人數，更大幅增加。
哈日國際化
日本在60年代開始發展動漫、音樂、劇集、電子遊戲等流行產業，奠定了日本流行文化的基礎。至90年代，日本文化的影響力迅速擴大並邁向國際，從動漫、音樂、時裝設計，甚至電器、汽車等，在全球不同角落都無處不在。
日本流行文化開始進入香港，始於上世紀的70年代。當時香港的電視台啟播不久，未能大量製作本地電視劇，於是買下日劇來播放，從此牽起日本流行文化在香港的風潮，香港流行文化的發展，無論是音樂、電影或漫畫，都受到一定程度的影響，上世紀80年代和90年代是香港流行樂壇最興盛的年代，當時就有大概兩到三成歌曲改編自日本歌。
風繼續吹──韓風接力
繼日本流行文化風行後，韓風亦隨之出現。隨著韓國經濟於90年代末復甦，蓄意拓展海外市場，除電視劇外，其他如電影、流行音樂，潮流產品、汽車、時裝、電器，甚至手提電話等，均滲透到不同的生活層面，形成一股韓國潮流。韓風乘著越來越普及的網路媒體如Youtube等，近年在中國大陸、台灣、泰國、菲律賓及越南等東南亞國家非常流行，更吹至部分西方國家如英、美、法等國，以至東歐如羅馬尼亞，南美地區如巴西、秘魯，甚至穆斯林世界國家如伊朗等，可說是無遠弗屆。
香港被韓風席捲，可說是由電影帶動。由2000年開始，多齣韓國電影，均高踞當時香港票房榜首，而韓劇、韓星及韓國組合和樂隊開始在香港大受熱捧：韓國成為港人的旅遊熱點，韓國化妝保養品大受女士們歡迎，韓國手機在市場上的佔有率不斷上升，香港的韓「粉」（即韓迷）有增無減。
追風
學院特別開辦多個相關課程，助學員掌握日韓語，了解日韓流行文化，輕鬆追逐日韓風。
開課後及期考前，學院都會為學員安排免費補習班，助學員適應課程進度之餘，同時為學員提供一些學習語言的小竅門。
相關課程：
日語入門
分為每周上課一次和每周上課兩次兩種
日語基礎證書先修課程
適合曾修讀60小時日語的人士報讀，完成課程後可直接修讀日語基礎證書課程
韓語入門 (1)
每周上課一次
韓國文化基礎證書課程
- 以韓語教授韓國文化
- 已修畢韓語基礎證書或具備\韓國語能力考試TOPIK - LEVEL 2（180分或以上）的學員可輕鬆認識K POP、電影、料理等極具趣味的韓國文化
(查詢電話：3762 0820；電郵：jolang@hkuspace.hku.hk)
韓語文法研習班
加強對韓語文法的掌握及運用
隨時隨地網上學習
為方便學員學習，學院的日、韓語課程均設有e-Learning 網上輔助教學系統，除文法、詞彙表、閱讀理解（附帶發聲功能）等補充教材外，更上載了由老師們精心製作的動畫，介紹日韓兩地文化特色。去年起學院更設置了SOUL 2.0手機應用程式，將e-Learning推行至手機，進一步方便同學隨時隨地溫習、翻查生字與文法。
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