Cuba’s Korean Wave

[Anchor Lead]

Cuban people are falling in love with Korean pop culture these days. On today’s close up, how has the Korean pop culture wave Hallyu made its way to the Caribbean country, which has no official diplomatic relations with South Korea? Let’s find out.

[Pkg]

Young people are going wild about something here late into the night. It's K-pop.

[Soundbite] "It is very exciting. It is the best. Korea is the best!"

[Soundbite] "I love K-pop so much that I came here to enjoy K-pop with my friends."

An ordinary Cuban high school girl and her older sister, a college student, are big fans of K-pop. The sisters are so enthusiastic that they even formed a dancing team with their friends who love K-pop, too.

[Soundbite] (K-pop Fan) : "K-pop is completely different from the music I have known until now. Music videos are also different. K-pop is a totally different genre. It is really different."

Young people are not the only ones who love Korean culture. This is Theresa, an 80-year-old woman. Upon entering her house, she immediately starts showing off her treasures.

[Soundbite] "I received it as a birthday gift. I like this actor's acting."

It's a collection of photos of South Korean actor Joo Jin-mo. She underwent eye surgery last year so she is advised not to watch TV for too long. But she doesn't want to miss her favorite South Korean dramas. Why are Cubans so mad for South Korean dramas?

[Soundbite] (Fan of Korean Dramas) : "I like romantic and emotionally-touching dramas. In Korean dramas, I like the scenes in which they hold hands and kiss each other like birds."

[Soundbite] (Fan of Korean Dramas) : "I hope that Cuba will become as developed as Korea in the future. I watch Korean dramas with that dream in mind."

With the soaring popularity, even a fan club has been formed. It started out as an informal gathering of Korean culture lovers who wanted to exchange information. But the number of members have exceeded 1,800 in less than two years. These enthusiastic hallyu fans want to serve as a cultural bridge between South Korea and Cuba.

[Soundbite] (Chairwoman of Hallyu Fan Club) : "Our role is to more introduce Korea to Cuba each day. At the same time, we want to introduce Cuban culture to South Korea."

The Korean culture boom was ignited by dramas and music. But it is now boosting Cuban people's interest in overall Korean culture from cuisine to language. With a variety of Korean dishes presented, this is where a Korean cooking competition was held.

[Soundbite] (Hallyu Fan) : "Dramas have detailed explanations about foods. I like them so much that I decided to make the dishes all by myself."

Participants cooked dishes they had never tasted before by referring to secondhand information and materials. But they all say that they have become lovers of Korean food.

[Soundbite] (Hallyu Fan) : "Compared to Korean food, a lot of oil is used for Cuban food. So Korean food is quite healthy."

[Soundbite] "Hello."

[Soundbite] "Hello."

A Korean class is in full swing in a downtown area late at night. Launched in 2012, the Korean language class is so popular that the rate of admission stands at two or three to one. While studying Korean, some students have discovered new dreams.

[Soundbite] (Student at Korean Class) : "I want to become a Korean interpreter. I hope Cuba and South Korea will establish diplomatic relations soon."

Despite the lack of official diplomatic relations between the two countries, the distance between South Korea and Cuba is being bridged through culture.