Korean Wave (Hallyu) of Knowledge through Content
Curation, Infographics, and Digital Storytelling
Seong Hui Park1, Kyoung Hee Kim2
1, 2 Graduate School, Dept. of Global Cultural Contents, Hankuk University of
Foreign Studies, 107 Imun-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, Korea [email protected], [email protected]
Abstract. We examined curation as a response to the information overload of
the digital age, starting with a contemplation of the role of human beings and
society in the face of the fourth industrial revolution. We also examined the
production and educational use of Korean knowledge information content
through the cultivation of digital literacy, using, for example, infographics and
storytelling. Specifically, we explain the making of and meaning behind an
infographic about Yi Sun-sin, the most respected figure in Korea, who is also
internationally recognized for his leadership and tactics. The purpose of this
paper is to demonstrate some unique abilities of human beings such as
comprehensive thinking, insight, and creativity, which are obtained through
abundant knowledge and experience, and to initiate a Korean Wave (hallyu) of
knowledge by actively producing and sharing material about Korean history
and culture in various forms.
Keywords: Korean Wave of knowledge, digital, storytelling, content, curation,
Yi Sun-sin, infographics(information design), instructional tool
1 Introduction
This paper aims to focus on the phenomenon of the digital and knowledge
information society, and promote the Korean Wave of knowledge by simultaneously
spreading throughout the world information about Korean history and culture as a
whole and inducing the reproduction of knowledge through active use of information
and communication technology. It is a study on the process of creatively
reconstructing and providing overflowing information and content through curation,
thereby enabling users to produce self-expression and better content. At the same
time, it discusses the task of creating Korean knowledge information content by
utilizing content curation, infographics (information design), and digital storytelling
techniques to produce knowledge information contents about the history and culture
of Korea—a type of content that is scarce compared to the Korean popular culture
content that has attracted global interest and reaction.
Advanced Science and Technology Letters Vol.143 (AST 2017), pp.6-10
http://dx.doi.org/10.14257/astl.2017.143.02
ISSN: 2287-1233 ASTL Copyright © 2017 SERSC
2 Content Curation, Infographics, and Digital Storytelling
2.1 Content Curation
Content curation is a series of processes that collect, classify, and organize a wide
variety of information and content according to a particular topic or interest. The
ability to create information by assigning meaning to the countless individual data
floating on the Internet, organizing them into valuable knowledge, and applying them
in our lives to demonstrate wisdom, is unique to humans. It requires the abundant
knowledge and experience, insight and creativity, and communication of humans. On
the other hand, human beings, who can no longer live apart from various media and
computers, must cultivate digital literacy, the ability to utilize these digital
technologies.
Content curation basically aims at providing usable information of a new
viewpoint by collecting, saving and processing large amount of data. Thus, data
mining, filtering, analysis algorithm, and information graphics in content curation are
the technological elements that collect and analyze data to construct information.
2.2 Infographics
We can intuitively and easily understand complex content through infographics.
Through this visual pleasure, it is possible to engage people’s interest and convey dry
but necessary information in a fun way. Infographics are also useful for spreading
information quickly, as they are easy to share via social media. In addition,
infographics in the curriculum can foster comprehensive thinking skills, literacy,
analytical ability, expressive power, and more in students that enable them to view
and interpret problems from various perspectives. Infographics do not just visually
convey information, but also help people understand and explore it. Infographics
make it easy to learn and remember things.
Fig. 1. Infographic process and effects
High quality infographics are 30 times more likely to be read than text articles.
Publishers that feature infographics grow traffic 12% faster than publishers that don’t
Advanced Science and Technology Letters Vol.143 (AST 2017)
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feature infographics. Infographic are 40 times more likely to be share on social
networks.
2.3 Digital Storytelling
Digital storytelling is a type of storytelling in a hypermedia environment called the
Web; hyperlink provides the enjoyment and convenience of browsing abundant yet
relevant information and content through navigating the Web.
Digital storytelling is an effective instructional tool for teachers and an effective
learning tool for students. There are numerous ways that digital storytelling can be
used in education. One of them is infographics. A growing number of teachers are
interested in exploring ways to engage their students by using multimedia in their
instruction. When students are able to participate in the multiple steps of designing,
creating and presenting their own digital stories, they increase a full complement of
literacy and skills, including: digital literacy, visual literacy, information literacy,
organization skills, technology skills, presentation skills, interpersonal skills, etc.
Here, we intend to produce infographics portraying the story of Yi Sun-sin, the
most respected figure in Korean history. This is a way to arouse interest about this
figure and provide information through the Yi Sun-sin infographic design while
enabling people to find deeper knowledge through hyperlinks. We intend to initiate a
Korean Wave of knowledge by spreading information about Yi Sun-sin overseas.
This constitutes both a story and a process related to the acquisition and reproduction
of knowledge in the digital environment.
3 Digital Content Development and the Korean Wave of
Knowledge
3.1 The Greatest Admiral, Yi Sun-sin
In 2014, the Korea Gallup research agency conducted a survey on “people whom
Koreans love.” The survey was administered to 1,700 men and women over the age of
13 (open answer), and Yi Sun-sin (13%), who is known as the greatest admiral in the
history of Korea, had the highest response rate. Thus, Admiral Yi Sun-sin is the most
respected figure in Korea and an internationally recognized global leader. Yet he is
not well known compared to great historical figures from other countries. This is
because there is a lack of knowledge information contents about Korea’s culture and
history. That is, there is no content appropriate to the digital environment, society and
cultural communication where Korea has a reputation for having the world’s fastest
internet connection speed and the best information and communication technology.
Based on these issues, we created an infographic that can efficiently convey
information and content about Admiral Yi Sun-sin.
Advanced Science and Technology Letters Vol.143 (AST 2017)
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3.2 Production of Yi Sun-sin Infographic Through Digital Storytelling
Fig. 2. Yi Sun-sin Infographic
The features and functions of these infographics include the information’s visuality
and sense of clarity, interactivity with users, information sharing, empathy-oriented
education and publicity tools, and more. By using these effectively, knowledge
information about Korea can be efficiently spread through Internet platforms.
3.3 Digital Content and the Korean Wave of Knowledge
Infographics constitute only a single format and content, and there are a myriad of
people with various talents in the world. Each can exercise his or her respective
abilities and create content in a variety of formats and ways, including Wikipedia,
websites, videos, and webtoons. It is our view that these works can be accumulated
and shared to improve the Korean Wave of knowledge in the world.
Advanced Science and Technology Letters Vol.143 (AST 2017)
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Fig. 3. The Korean Wave of Knowledge
4 Conclusion
In the era of information overload, the ability to efficiently acquire the information
one needs and turn it into one’s own knowledge will be useful for living in a
knowledge information society. Information design content, such as infographics, is a
visual representation of complex or unstructured data that clearly and distinctly
communicates its meaning, making it easier for people to understand the information.
Furthermore, when information—that started from a simple visual interest and builds,
leading to a desire for greater knowledge that in turn leads to more information—is
utilized, it becomes knowledge.
If we can achieve the quantitative increase and qualitative improvement of Korean
knowledge information contents through various digital communication tools such as
curation, storytelling, and information design, or go even further and give people all
over the world the opportunity to freely produce and share Korean knowledge and
information in a digital environment, we are confident that the sustainability of the
Korean Wave and the spread of Korean studies will come naturally.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the Research Fund from Hankuk University of Foreign
Studies. *Corresponding author: Kyoung Hee Kim ([email protected])
References
1. Steven Rosenbaum., Translation by Si-eun Lee., Curation Nation : How to Win in a World
Where Consumers are Creators, p. 29. MyungJin Publication, Korea (2011)
2. Hong-kyu Choi., Content Curation, p.3. Communication Books, Korea (2015)
3. Bernard R. Robin, The Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling, pp. 709-716. Proceedings
of Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference
(2006)
4. The Man who Transforms KOREA, http://www.prkorea.com/yisunsin/index.htm
Advanced Science and Technology Letters Vol.143 (AST 2017)
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