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🇸🇬 Singapore /Culture & Society

In Mexico, a love affair with all things Korean — at least until kickoff

From The Straits Times · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • South Korean cultural influence, from factories to K-pop, has deeply permeated Mexico over the years.
  • This growing relationship faces a unique test as Mexico and South Korea compete in a World Cup group stage match.
  • The bond is evident in cities like Monterrey, where Korean companies have established a significant presence, and K-pop fandom is widespread.

The burgeoning relationship between South Korea and Mexico, fueled by everything from industrial investment to the infectious beats of K-pop, is set to face an unusual test on the football pitch. As the two nations prepare to clash in a group stage match of the World Cup, the deep cultural ties forged over years will be momentarily set aside for sporting rivalry.

Koreans and Mexicans are like brothers and sisters.

— AnnieA South Korean visitor in Guadalajara, expressing the close bond between the two nations.

This "geo-cultural love fest," as described by one observer, bridges vast distances in language and geography. South Korean influence has taken root, with K-pop serving as a primary gateway. This has led many young Mexicans to develop an interest in the Korean language, education, and broader culture, according to Erika Garza, director of Asian Studies at the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon.

Monterrey, a Mexican industrial hub, serves as a microcosm of this phenomenon. The arrival of major South Korean companies like Kia over the past decade has brought thousands of South Koreans to the region. For young individuals like 19-year-old Yoona Jwa, who moved to Monterrey as a child, Korean culture, including soccer, initially helped her integrate into Mexican society. Now, her Mexican friends are the ones learning Korean songs.

K-pop is the gateway, but the end result is that many young people end up becoming interested in the language, education, and culture.

— Erika GarzaDirector of Asian Studies at the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, explaining the impact of Korean culture.

The K-pop phenomenon is palpable in Monterrey's city center, with shops selling merchandise of popular groups like Stray Kids and BTS. Even as the World Cup match approaches, the enthusiasm for Korean culture remains strong. Eighteen-year-old Christopher Elizondo, a K-pop fan, admits he's unsure who to support, highlighting the personal discomfort the match might bring to fans with divided loyalties.

Once I was driving with my friends and they were singing a song I didn't recognize, and then I realized, they were singing in Korean!

— Yoona JwaA 19-year-old student in Monterrey, sharing an anecdote about her Mexican friends' engagement with Korean culture.

This isn't the first time the two nations' World Cup fates have been intertwined. In 2018, South Korea's dramatic victory over Germany unexpectedly propelled Mexico into the knockout stage, leading to jubilant celebrations outside the South Korean embassy in Mexico City. The consul himself emerged, donning a Mexican soccer jersey, to acknowledge the ecstatic fans.

It's going to be a bit uncomfortable.

— Christopher ElizondoAn 18-year-old K-pop fan in Monterrey, reflecting on his divided loyalties for the upcoming World Cup match.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Straits Times. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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