Ingyu Oh

Ingyu Oh serves as General Manager for IPON. He is Professor of International Business and Cultural Industries at Kansai Gaidai University, Osaka, Japan. He has published extensively on topics related to Asian business, cultural industries, and economic sociology. Ingyu authored or co-authored 18 books and over 80 academic articles.

6 articles published

“Marry My Husband” and the Birth of a Korea–Japan Cultural Bloc

Marry My Husband is a Korean web-novel-turned-webtoon-turned-tvN sensation. And Japan loves it. Japan's adoption of this Korean story is a seismic event: a post-pop phenomenon beyond bubblegum beats and glossy girl groups. This isn't brotherhood forged through BTS choreography. It’s something sharper, more emotionally electric: a cultural alliance rooted in narrative, gender politics, and platform…

August 15, 20250Comments

ByIngyu Oh

Influence Lifestyle Long Format New ideas

The Fall of Johnny’s Empire: Androgyny, Exploitation, and the Price of Illusion

Japan knows how to do androgyny. But its polished portrayal of male idols is now undergoing a reckoning. The carefully crafted images that once captivated millions are unraveling, revealing a culture riddled with abuse, coercion, and unchecked power. And the eye of the storm is Johnny & Associates. The agency that defined—and dominated—J-pop for over…

July 31, 20250Comments

ByIngyu Oh

Lines of Tension Long Format

The Cost of Balance: South Korea’s Foreign Policy Under Lee

Engagement and balance. That’s what new South Korean President Lee Jae-myung promises. But this “two-handed diplomacy” draws both praise and alarm. And given the ongoing geopolitical volatility and strategic realignments in Northeast Asia, this is no small matter. Lee seeks to sustain South Korea’s long-standing alliance with the United States and Japan while reopening diplomatic…

July 7, 20250Comments

ByIngyu Oh

Long Format New ideas Tech

Who likes AI? Who doesn’t? A look at the world’s attitudes

There is a striking divide between countries that love AI and countries that fear it — with many nuances in between, of course, but the contrast is fascinating. Recent data from the Stanford AI Index and global AI adoption surveys reveal how differently countries perceive the impact of artificial intelligence (AI), with reactions ranging from…

May 24, 20250Comments

ByIngyu Oh

Influence Long Format New ideas

Cracking the Code of Pop Culture: insights from Japan and Korea

Japanese pop culture first captured global attention in the 1950s, when postwar melodramatic films found international audiences. But its true global breakthrough came in the 1980s with the rise of manga and anime. Today, Japan remains a powerhouse in global pop culture, thanks to its thriving manga, character, and gaming industries. In contrast, South Korean…

May 9, 20250Comments

ByIngyu Oh

Lines of Tension Long Format New ideas

Yoon’s impeachment and the rise of Fandom Politics

This is the new face of Korean politics: "fandom politics." Much like K-pop fans who rally behind their favourite idols with fierce loyalty and social media savvy, political supporters in Korea now behave like digital fan clubs. And it’s not just a metaphor: the unprecedented decision by the Constitutional Court to uphold the impeachment of…

April 23, 20250Comments

ByIngyu Oh

Ingyu Oh

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