How can Korea benefit if the English language coverage of Korean topics on Wikipedia is improved?

Introduction

 As appropriate promotion efforts are made and South Korea's international standing continues to rise, the benefits that Korea can gain through Wikipedia will become increasingly diverse. The potential value derived from cultural exchange—such as tourism, media-related industries, and the recognition of historical facts—is estimated to be significant(while certain facts may spark controversy and divide opinions, I believe that, in the long run and from an academic perspective, this is not a disadvantage at all.).


 For instance, in the case of Korea’s tidal flats, which are designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site (and are already listed on English Wikipedia), adding more detailed information—such as geographical and ecological characteristics—can provide access to knowledge even for non-experts in academic fields. As more discussions and references are made regarding Korea’s tidal flats, the perceived value of this field may increase (although a decline is also possible), ultimately contributing to the global perception of Korea and generating tangible benefits.


 Moreover, beyond academic value, even those with a casual interest may eventually reach the stage of planning an actual visit, which in turn could lead to increased tourism revenue. This has the potential to make a meaningful economic contribution to local communities and, on a broader scale, to South Korea as a whole.


Comprehensive Tourism Overview (March 2024 – February 2025): Trends in Domestic and Foreign Visitor Numbers and Related Indicators(https://datalab.visitkorea.or.kr/datalab/portal/main/getMainForm.do)

Domestic Visitor Index: Decreased by 1.4% / Domestic Tourism Expenditure: Decreased by 1.8%
International Visitors to Korea: Increased by 26.8% / Foreign Tourism Expenditure: Increased by 19.4%

Overall

 South Korea is one of the countries equipped with both the technological capacity and the infrastructure to provide extensive information to the international community. However, not all available resources can be assumed to be effectively accessible to global audiences. Enhancing English-language explanations of Korea-related topics on Wikipedia—a platform that plays a significant role in information circulation—could serve as an efficient means of increasing revenue in various fields, including tourism, academia, and culture.


Q: South Korea primarily generates revenue through industries such as media, cultural and tourism, which may have also benefited from user of Wikipedia. What other fields could gain benefits with the help of Wikipedia?

Comments

  1. Jeong seolahMarch 20, 2025 at 10:45 PM

    South Korea is a country with an advanced manufacturing industry, excelling in sectors such as automobiles, semiconductors, and batteries. The nation is also rapidly growing in smart factory and robotics technology. Wikipedia can serve as a platform to document South Korea’s smart manufacturing technologies and automation systems, facilitating collaboration with overseas companies and researchers. For example, if Wikipedia provides well-organized information on Samsung Electronics’ or Hyundai Motor’s smart manufacturing processes, it could further enhance the global recognition of South Korea’s manufacturing competitiveness.

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