Netflix’s effects on the Korean Wave: power relations between local cultural industries and global OTT platforms

Abstract

This article discusses how Netflix has influenced the local cultural industries in terms of the shift of cultural genres and the industry structure. By employing the convergence of critical political economy and sociocultural approach, it articulates whether Netflix has inroaded Korea due to the Korean Wave. It discusses whether local cultural industries firms change their norms in production to comply with Netflix’s orientation and argues the ways in which the shift in the standard of cultural production has changed the cultural text in genres to determine whether global platforms arguably destroy local specificities and identities. Finally, it interrogates shifting power relationships between a global OTT platform and local players, including cultural creators and platform users, and its implications in the Korean cultural industries.