The significance of music industry (or k-pop) to the economy of the Republic of Korea

This bachelor's thesis discusses the South Korean cultural wave and k-pop. The thesis aims to evaluate the significance of the cultural wave for the Korean economy (particularly for exports, GDP creation, and employment), emphasising the economic impacts of the music industry, especially k-pop. The thesis is divided into three parts. The first part focuses on the history and characteristics of the cultural wave and the Korean music industry, with an emphasis on k-pop and its specifics. The second part concentrates on data analysis of the economic importance of the music industry for the country's economy. The third part describes systematic government support for the cultural wave and how culture builds South Korea's national brand and contributes to soft power. It also addresses the presence of the Korean wave in the Czech Republic and the activities of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Czech Republic related to the cultural wave.