As TV dramas from South Korea have become popular in China, a Chinese influence has also swept South Korea in recent years. For example, Chinese language training institutions in South Korea have grown 20 percent annually. And Chinese written characters, Confucianism and cuisine are also having an increasing presence there.
In recent years, South Korean dramas have gained popularity in China, and vice versa, as bilateral cultural exchange grows.
In 1999, famous Chinese TV drama "Princess Pearl", or "Huan Zhu Ge Ge", became the most popular show in south Korea during prime time. The lead actress Zhao Wei was even invited to the welcoming dinner when South Korean president Park Geun-hye visited China last year.
So ever since "Princess Pearl", other Chinese shows have flocked to South Korea, each achieving high ratings in the country.
With the increasing cultural exchange between the two countries, experts say Korean audiences are growing more attached to Chinese culture. And they're not only watching TV dramas, they also want to experience real Chinese culture in person.
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