What the K-Wave Can Teach Iran

by Nita Sabouri

Unlessyou’ve been living under a rock, you are probably aware of the current popularity of Korean media. From the worldwide success of K-pop groups such as BTS, to the explosive popularity of Korean dramas like Squid Game, South Korean cultural exports are everywhere, even in one unexpected location: The Islamic Republic of Iran.

I first began to observe this phenomenon through TikTok. As we all know, the TikTok algorithm is remarkably accurate. Somehow, the algorithm figured out that I am both a Persian-speaking diaspora Iranian and a fan of BTS. It began to show me videos of Iranian girls living in Tehran and posting dance covers of their favorite K-pop groups. In addition to choreography, they would lip sync the songs, despite the lyrics being entirely in Korean. I became fascinated by this phenomenon for several reasons.

First, internet access is limited in the Islamic Republic. Of course there are still ways around it, but the limitations on sites like Twitter and Instagram, where most K-pop fans discuss their common interest, makes it significantly more difficult to engage with other fans. Additionally, there is the issue of the language barrier. As a fluent English speaker, I still find it difficult to find real-time translations of the lyrics and posts of my favorite singers. Since I don’t speak Korean, I have to wait for those who are fluent in Korean and English to provide translations. Sometimes, I have to cross reference multiple accounts to figure out the most accurate translation of what is being said. For a language like Persian, which is far less popular than English, there are few native speakers of both Korean and Farsi and thus, far fewer translators. More likely, Persian translators wait for the English translations, and then translate those into Farsi. Iranian fans wait double the time for translations of lyrics, posts, and livestreams and they go through twice the number of hoops.

Another large aspect of the K-Pop fandom, merchandise and concerts, are nearly impossible to find in Iran. Fans across the world love to show off their album collections along with their concert photos. For Iranian fans, this is basically impossible. Iranian concerts in the Islamic Republic are already difficult, due to the country’s restrictions on music and travel.

As for merchandise, shipping to Iran is highly restricted due to a myriad of international sanctions. To me, this shows the sheer dedication that these fans have. They have such a connection to the artists and the music that they are willing to endure the various obstacles in place to prevent them from enjoying what K-pop has to offer. Though unusual, K-pop’s popularity amongst Gen-Z Iranians demonstrates the passion of Iranian teenagers and their resilience in the face of adversity.

Perhaps, however, this phenomenon is not so peculiar. Surprisingly, Korea and Iran share a more closely-woven history than one would expect. Ancient Korea was notoriously isolated, earning the nickname “the Hermit Kingdom” due to its reluctance to engage with outsiders. But according to the Middle East Institute, goods had been arriving in Korea from Persia through the Silk Road for over 1,500 years. What’s even more unexpected is that there is mention of Korea’s Silla Kingdom in the Kushnamah, a Persian epic poem from the sixth century. The middle of the poem contains a story about a Persian prince who visits the Silla Kingdom and marries a Korean princess. This story was mentioned by Park Geun-hye, former South Korean president, during the Korea-Iran ‘One Heart’ Festival, an event that celebrates Korea and Iran’s cultural ties. But just as South Korea and Iran’s relations serve to bring the two countries together, they also highlight the stark differences in their political and economic situations. As part of a cultural exchange, in 1977, Iran and South Korea decided to designate streets named after the other country’s capital city. Teheran-ro in Seoul is beautiful. It’s home to many tech companies, including Samsung. It is also located in the Gangnam district, which is one of Korea’s wealthiest areas. In sharp contrast, Seoul Street in Tehran is located near the notorious Evin prison, which is where most of the country’s political prisoners are kept. The two streets demonstrate where the two countries are at the present moment. While Korea’s cultural influence expands outwards to the rest of the world and it becomes a powerful player in the global tech market, Iran retreats inwards, instead focusing on political repression. In a way, the existence of Teheran-ro and Seoul Street shows where Iran could be.

Iran has a rich and ancient history, spanning centuries. Persian culture has produced some of the most influential epics in the world. Iran is home to some of the world’s brightest creative minds, such as Abbas Kiarostami, Forugh Farrokzad, and Shirin Neshat. And as I see Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho win the Best Picture Oscar for the hit film “Parasite”, I find that I could just as easily see Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi escape the confines of the Best Foreign Film category that international artists are often restricted to and make his way into winning Best Picture. But as it is, Teheran-ro serves as a reminder for what Iran is capable of achieving if it is willing to show itself to the rest of the world.