The aim of this study was to investigate the role Korean Town played in spreading Korean Culture as Hallyu Culture hub or mediator of Korean Culture.
In order to find the mediator role of the Korean Town, this study conducted a survey on the Japanese who visited Shin-Okubo Korean Town. The result of the analysis is as follow.
First, the result showed that there was great change in Korean language learning for Japanese who had been to the Korean Town. Through the Hallyu Culture, Japanese began to concern Korean language learning more, the Japanese people who knew Korean language became more and the proficiency of Korean language was also improved.
Second, under the effect of Hallyu Culture of Korean Town, Koreans made more Japanese acquaintances in Japan and Korea. According to the survey, the acquaintances of Japan were mainly friends, families, relatives, and fellow workers, but the acquaintances of Korea were fellow workers, friends, families and relatives in the order of people’s number.
Third, by the influence of Hallyu culture, more and more the Japanese who had been to Korean Town moved to the residences of Japanese Koreans.
Fourth, Japanese showed more interest on the Korea with the effect of the Hallyu culture of Korean Town. It was seemed that the time for Japanese visiting Korea became longer, and the number of times that Japanese visited Korea increased.
This study revealed that Korean Town played an important role in spreading Hallyu Culture. In addition, Korean Town functioned as a Hallyu Culture Hub spreading Hallyu Culture to the Japanese and as a mark of Korean culture. In this situation, the status of Korean Town was strengthened.