Korean Clubs in the United Arab Emirates: Promoting Intercultural Competence of Female Emiratis

Abstract

Objectives: The significant impact that Hallyu (the "Korean Wave") has recently been having on young female Emiratis can be seen in the recent trend of female Emirati university students joining Korean clubs to learn more about the culture. The women are first attracted to the culture by Korean pop music (K-pop) and Korean dramas (K-dramas) and then become more interested in learning about Korean culture and language. The purpose of this study is to show how a university Korean club and the Korean Cultural Center in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) provide the experiential perspectives necessary to gain intercultural competence and an appreciation for Korean culture. Methods: We surveyed 23 female Korean Club members in the UAE to understand why they are interested in Korean culture and analyzed the winning speech of the 2019 Korean speech contest to see if students had gained intercultural communication competence and an appreciation for Korean culture. Results: We found that Emirati females are initially drawn to Korean culture by Hallyu, specifically by Korean pop music and dramas. The students then become interested in learning the Korean language and other opportunities to learn more about Korea. Involvement in university Korean clubs helps students immerse themselves in Korean culture and language while living in the UAE. Conclusion:The strong interest in Korea coupled with Korean cultural experiences within the UAE is creating culturally competent students who are ready to join the workforce. Arab students capable of speaking Arabic, English, and Korean fluently with an understanding of Korean culture will benefit the on-going bilateral relations between the UAE and Korea.