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 1psh21c@gmail.com, 2andantina@hanmail.net

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)

Copyright © 2017 SERSC 7

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 (andantina@hanmail.net)

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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