韩国文化创意产业价值860亿

The popular South Korean TV drama "My Love From The Star" swept Chinese fans off their feet this year. The K-pop fever has not only brought in big profits for the South Korean TV industry, it also has created a ripple effect on other parts of the economy in Asia.

The value of the country’s cultural and creative industry has already reached 85.5 billion U.S dollars, with cultural exports remaining robust in 2013. Laura Luo tells us how much pop culture perks up economies in South Korea and nearby countries.

"Professor Do Min-Joon" and his single layer eyelid have become almost every advertiser's favourite face. And a food combo known as "Beer & Fried Chicken" are now a must order meal for some. That’s thanks to a famous South Korean TV drama " My Love From The Star".

Beyond advertising and food, South Korea’s popular culture has heavily influenced Asia from fashion to what lovers do and say to each other. What’s underpinning the strong pop wave is a strategy laid down in 1999 by the South Korea government, to develop the country’s cultural industry. Official data shows SK’s cultural and creative industry produced 85.5 billion U.S dollars in value last year, and exported 5.1 billion. From 2008 to 2012, this part of exports grew at almost 19 percent a year.

A study also shows, for every 100 USD of Pop culture exported, exports of other S. Korean made products would increase by about 412 USD. And the impact is especially huge on IT products, food, and cosmetics. But of course, business is not the only thing K-pop is able to improve, it has also brought people from the east and the west much closer, by all dancing in Gangnum Style.