Anies Wants Culture In Indonesia To Imitate South Korean Government With Massive K-Pop Investment

Anies Baswedan/Diah Ayu-VOI presidential candidate

JAKARTA - The presidential candidate from the NasDem Party, Anies Baswedan, talked about the South Korean pop culture fever (South Korea) which is now global, including Indonesia. According to Anies, this can be imitated by the Indonesian government.

Anies explained that the explosion of South Korean pop culture could not simply happen. Since the 90s, the South Korean government has been willing to spend massive investments to develop the K-Pop culture.

"South Korea, in the 90s it was a massive investment in the development of their cultural activities. Funded from investing in equipment, investing in learning, sending them to various places in the world, bringing world art actors to Korea. This is all financed by the state," Anies said in a discussion at Taman Ismail Marzuki, Central Jakarta, Thursday, August 24.

From the investment process for decades, according to Anies, a creative process emerged that could bring South Korean pop culture to various parts of the world.

"So, South Korea's success is the result of investment. Then in its diplomatic activities, it is put right in it. From culinary, until the film the country comes very seriously. Today, the investment they spent in the 90s provided a powerful commercial return," said Anies.

According to the former Governor of DKI Jakarta, Indonesia has more cultural wealth than South Korea. If the government could seriously discuss investment in this field, he continued, Indonesia's cultural development could surpass the country.

"We have extraordinary potential. The simple language is like this, they can host in their own country and can become charming guests in people's countries," said Anies.

Furthermore, Anies is of the view that the country is not designed to transact trades with its people. The state should prepare investments as a vehicle for cultural promotion.

"Therefore, the state should not trade with its people. If the state views its people as a consumer, it will damage all affairs," he added.