What is globalization? – Park gyeonggyun

 Summary

 Globalization is difficult to define with a single, fixed definition. It encompasses a wide range of meanings and interpretations. However, Robertson and White argue that globalization primarily develops in two major directions. The first is the expansion of global connectivity, and the second is the growth of global consciousness. Globalization can also be categorized into cultural, political, and economic sectors, among which cultural globalization is often regarded as the most noticeable.

 At the cultural level, popular culture such as McDonald’s represents how global brands spread and adapt to local environments. In other words, new cultural forms that reflect regional characteristics are created through this process. At the economic level, the growing influence of multinational corporations through free trade is a key example. At the political level, globalization can be seen in discussions concerning issues of national sovereignty and international cooperation.

New Knowledge
 First of all, I realized that studying globalization can serve as a valuable foundation for my future career. Until recently, I neither knew much about globalization nor made any effort to study it in depth. When I encountered it in classes, I simply accepted the concept passively without considering its direct relevance to me. However, when I was asked how globalization might influence my future career, I realized that it indeed plays a role in shaping my path. I am currently preparing to become a program director. Since Korean programs are now spreading across the globe, I must study globalization more seriously than ever before. It is essential to understand what people in other cultures prefer, dislike, and expect to be respected. This knowledge can greatly contribute not only to my personal success but also to the broader development of Korean culture. Depending on how a program is designed and presented, Korean culture can naturally be introduced and spread worldwide. There have already been cases in which Korean programs such as Running Man and I Am a Singer gained attention overseas. However, I do not believe they have achieved the same level of influence or recognition as K-pop. This made me realize that studying globalization further could help identify untapped potential in areas that have not yet been fully globalized.

 Secondly, I had initially believed that Korea was a true powerhouse of globalization. Of course, I still think Korea is one of the most globally active nations among Korea, China, and Japan. Nevertheless, I learned that globalization in other countries is more advanced than I had assumed. In Korea, countless articles highlight the worldwide popularity of K-pop, and this gave me a strong sense of national pride. Yet I was not paying enough attention to the achievements of other countries. For instance, Japan has achieved tremendous globalization through its animation industry. In fact, I now believe that Japanese animation sometimes attracts more global popularity than K-pop. This shows that I had been considering globalization only from a Korean perspective. Moreover, although Instagram and YouTube are blocked in China, the country has still managed to produce remarkable achievements such as TikTok and martial arts dramas. It is difficult to imagine how much greater China’s global impact might have been without such censorship. Through this class, I became more interested in, and more aware of, the globalization processes occurring in other countries beyond Korea.

Questions for Discussion
 I find myself wondering whether the continuous advancement of globalization is always a good thing. On the one hand, globalization offers many advantages, such as fostering respect for one another’s cultures and facilitating the exchange of skills, technology, and creativity. On the other hand, I believe it also contains hidden disadvantages. For example, cultural homogenization may occur as societies increasingly adopt one another’s cultural elements. Moreover, as exchanges intensify, cultures may be altered to cater to tourists’ preferences, and in doing so, communities might eventually lose parts of their authentic identity. This makes me question what other disadvantages globalization might bring and which of these problems could become the most severe in the future. Although the reading materials already expressed concern about the drawbacks of globalization, I still wish to explore this issue further. In order to protect our culture, I believe we should discuss practical strategies for preservation and consider when cultural uniformity might realistically occur.

 In addition, during class, I was asked how studying globalization benefits the career path I want to pursue, and I provided an answer. Now I would like to go beyond that question and reflect more deeply on what risks globalization may create for my career specifically. For instance, cultural misunderstandings, misrepresentations, or excessive commercialization could emerge as risks. Therefore, I hope to discuss what kinds of preparations might allow me to overcome these challenges and how I can develop resilience in a globalized professional environment.

 Lastly, K-pop has now become a cultural phenomenon that attracts attention from audiences worldwide. Many people not only enjoy listening to K-pop but also attempt to imitate it by learning the dances, styles, and aesthetics associated with it. At the same time, J-pop has also been gaining substantial popularity. This makes me wonder whether K-pop might eventually be caught up to—or even surpassed—by other countries’ cultural exports. Of course, I believe such a change would take a long time, but if it does happen, it will be important to discuss how Korean popular culture can continue to move ahead and maintain its position as a leader in globalization.

4. Using AI

 I used GPT to translate and refine the sentences.