CAVITE – Governor Jonvic Remulla defended the Filipinos' love for Korean dramas, saying these have been a source of hope and inspiration at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Remulla, in a Facebook post, was reacting to the proposal to ban Korean dramas and other foreign-made content in the Philippines to boost local films and TV shows.
During the Senate hearing of the 2023 budget of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) on Oct. 18, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada said it sometimes crosses his mind to propose a ban on Korean dramas and other foreign content to enhance the local entertainment industry.
Speaking up on the issue on Wednesday, Oct. 19, Remulla admitted that he is a K-pop and K-drama fan himself.
"I think they strike a chord in the Filipino heart. At the height of the pandemic when most of us were locked in our homes, K-Dramas and K-Pop gave many Filipinos hope and inspiration," the governor said.
Remulla also said that while Filipinos support the Korean entertainment industry, Koreans, in turn, help sustain the Philippine tourism industry. To back his claim, he posted 2019 data from the Department of Tourism, showing Korea as the Philippines' top tourist market by volume, followed by China and the United States.
"Koreans also make the top tourist arrivals in the Philippines. They love our country while we love them for their world-class entertainment," Remulla added.
"There are no boundaries in pop culture. Learn and take inspiration from what the Koreans have achieved. Kaya natin yan (We can do it)."