I. IntroductionThe importance of culture has increased significantly in international relations and foreign policy. The values ​​of national culture are fundamental resources that produce soft power in international politics (Nye 2005: 5). In recent decades, cultural diplomacy has become involved in a widely recognized and applied concept seen as building international bridges, identifying networks and domains of power within cultures, and transcending national and cultural boundaries (Kim 2010 ). East Asia as an economically booming region. , has a distinct cultural framework. In this region, the use of cultural diplomacy has shaped the regional market for cultural products and international relations. The growing popularity of South Korean pop culture in recent decades demonstrates the importance of national soft power and cultural diplomacy. The aim of this article is to analyze the definition and development of cultural diplomacy and its effects. This article will then examine the motivation and effects of cultural diplomacy in a realistic approach through the case study of South Korea's cultural programs. The research questions explored in this article are threefold: First, why does South Korea promote cultural diplomacy? Second, what are the results of its cultural diplomacy? Third, apart from the positive effects, are there any frictions or negative reactions resulting from South Korea's cultural diplomacy programs and what kind of actions should the government take in the future?III. Academic ReviewIn order to fully examine cultural diplomacy and avoid terminological confusion, it is necessary to define several key terms in this article.CultureZhuge Liang, one of China's greatest military...... middle of paper. ..... The drama and its stars, including Bae Yong Jun, Ahn Jae Wook, Lee Byung Heon and Kim Hee Seon, have enchanted Asian audiences. Popular consumption of Korean television series has coincided with that of cinema. Like Shiri, Joint Security Area and My Sassy Girl, Korean films have become regular fixtures in cinemas across Asia. At the same time, Korean pop music, or K-pop, has also given rise to international celebrities such as HOT, BoA and Rain. Regional media are calling this new popular cultural phenomenon in Asia the Korean Wave.” (Shim 2008: 15-31). The Korean Wave has become a multi-element cultural export from South Korea to other countries. The popularity of Korean culture abroad, especially in neighboring countries, has provided a solid foundation for the South Korean government to take advantage of it and implement more cultural diplomatic actions and programs...