Jeff Yang : For many years , I was never one of the cool kids , part of the in crowd . Yang : I was surprised when Japanese and Hong Kong pop culture became popular . It 's not just a gigantic money-making industry , it 's also the primary source of `` soft power '' by which the nation seeks to shorten its path from war-torn , third-world country to the top ranks of world influencers . He says South Korea is now hot -- with K - pop , Samsung , ` ` Gangnam Style , '' movies . Yang : Latest Korean cool will be sampled at midnight this weekend in Los Angeles .
Jeff Yang : For many years , I was never one of the cool kids , part of the in crowd . Yang : I was surprised when Japanese and Hong Kong pop culture became popular . He says South Korea is now hot -- with K - pop , Samsung , ` ` Gangnam Style , '' movies . Yang : Latest Korean cool will be sampled at midnight this weekend in Los Angeles .