The new instrument of Indonesia soft diplomacy

diagram of soft diplomacy 

In today's 2020, the relations between Indonesia - South Korea will mark its 47th years. According to official websites of Indonesian Foreign Ministry, the relations between these two countries started in 1973, but the consular-relations between these two sovereign states has begun in 1966. Since then, the relations confirmed very warm and close in many aspects of cooperation. 

Let's excluding the heavy topic of political relations behind and move to the simple one which is the Indonesia-South Korea soft diplomacy. The growth of Korean Wave in Indonesia is increasing significantly every year. The Korean Wave mean the Korean culture, it is include Korean music, drama, movie, reality show, etc that you might already know has been expanded massively among states.  I thought there is no other country that growing significantly in Indonesia over years but South Korea culture, either can't be compared by Indian-Hollywood, and/or Mexican culture through their Telenovela which is previously also popular in Indonesia the age of 21st century.

K-POP as a part of Korean Music has a special place within Indonesian's heart. That is one of the reason behind many Korean idol group held their own concert and/or activities in Indonesia these past couple years. Due to this reason, there are some of Korean Entertainment industry expanded their business to Indonesia, looking out the huge opportunity from Indonesia market also pretty much promising. If the case is goes like this, who do you think will get more benefit? - South Korea government? or Indonesia?

Did you see the picture of Soft Power-contained in the opening of this article? That diagram is tell you what factor contribute in making Soft Power as part of state diplomacy. We can see there is business/Innovation, culture, government, diplomacy, and education there - and the Korean Wave is a part of supporting detail in achieving South Korea diplomatic adjective in a "soft way" but powerful impact. 

As I mentioned before, the power of Korean Wave is succeeded in making Indonesian put their high interest over Korean culture. When the rate is increase, this also will open up another opportunities for state actor to catching up the benefit. You can see, many business actor in Indonesia invited Korean actor/actress as well as Korean idol group as company's brand ambassador and so on. 

You can take a look on SM Entertainment. They opened their first ever pop up store in Jakarta, Indonesia, with previously held global audition for those Indonesian who wants to pursue their career in Korean Entertainment Industry as an idol group. Right after SM opened their first store, you can witness how SM actively engaged in Indonesia with collaborative action by SM Artists featuring Indonesian artist as well as creating many Indonesia-related content on social media. Rosa, the Indonesian singer even became the first ever Indonesian artist who signed contract under SM Entertainment. The active engagement from Korean Entertainment Industry through business and/or Korean idol group was a good news indeed for all Indonesian K-POP fans and in term of business flow. Don't be barking up the wrong tree, because Indonesia - South Korea government also got benefit from this positive atmosphere. At the end, it could influence Indonesia and South Korea in decision making of their own foreign policy toward each other. 

Leaving SM behind, not-so-long time ago, Indonesia is freaking out by the news of Dita's becoming a member of Korean girl group. Right after her debut, Dita of Secret Number got a huge spotlight from public due to her Indonesian nationality of Balinese descent that led to trending in Twitter as the first ever Indonesian who debuted as a girl group in Korea. You might find a lot  of Japanese, Thailand and chinese who make their debut already as boy/girl group in Korea, but not many Indonesian. 

As the 4th largest Instagram users in the world, the news of Dita's becoming member of girl group spreading in social media immediately, in fact has brought attention to fans and non K-POP fans all around the world. You will find a lot of articles related to her in the internet playing. Indonesia is again become world's topic in a good way.

To provide Dita's profile as a brief, In the early of her debut day, Dita was introduced as a lead dancer in a group. It is no wonder because she was known covers many of K-POP dances since high school. She later went to the United States right after graduated from high school in order to pursue her career as a performer by attending in the American Musical and Dramatic's Academy (AMDA). She was covered by talent with numerous of awards given since growing up. She showed determination and perseverance to pursue her dream.

The raising of her popularity in Indonesia and Korea or might be in globally could be a reason for Indonesia soft diplomacy too. As I mentioned above in the early of this article, Korean Wave contributing a huge impact for South Korea soft diplomacy today through its culture. The biggest one might be from Korean music and its idol group contribution. The South Korea government knowing to give a fully support for the development of Korean wave worldwide including its Korean music. You must be heard about Music Bank worldwide tour, right? They successfully held concert in several countries  including Indonesia back then in 2013. The Music Bank worldwide tour is a government-supported concert in term of morally and financially. 

If our government also can involve and supporting the same way as South Korea to its culture, we definitely also could achieve the same level as South Korea soft diplomacy. The simplest way might be giving fully support of our representative in Korean music industry which is Dita of Secret Number and involve her in many Indonesia-related activities abroad especially in term of Indonesia cultural events. The other way is Indonesia could start to focus and support in term of Indonesia entertainment industry. Put more attention on new faces of young talented generation that potentially become Indonesia cultural representative one day. 

However, I knew that all of those schemes will be a little bit difficult to implement since we are all facing challenged due to Corona Virus spread. Let us hope for a better day and better Indonesia.