The impact of South Korea’s digital content industry (K-Content) on cultural perceptions and consumption trends among Vietnamese youth

Abstract

This study examines the impact of K-Content on the cultural perceptions and consumption trends of Vietnamese youth, with a particular focus on South Korean cosmetics. Based on a literature review and an analysis of practical developments, the study clarifies the process through which exposure to digital content contributes to the formation of consumer preferences, brand awareness, and consumption behavior. The findings indicate that K-Content promotes demand for products associated with South Korean imagery, lifestyles, and aesthetic standards. These findings provide several implications for Vietnamese businesses seeking to develop digital content, strengthen brand positioning, and enhance the competitiveness of domestic products.
Keywords
K-Content South Korean culture consumer behavior South Korean cosmetics Vietnamese youth

References

1.
Lê Thị Việt Hà, Nguyễn Tuấn Anh và Nguyễn Tuấn Quang. (2023). Ảnh hưởng của làn sóng văn hóa Hàn Quốc tới hành vi tiêu dùng của giới trẻ Hà Nội. Tạp chí Công Thương, 6.
2.
Phan Thị Thu Hiền. (2014). Understanding Korean Wave in Vietnamese youth-Through a survey on students' response. 건지인문학, 11, 301-328.
3.
Hà Thị Hồng và Nguyễn Minh Thư Linh. (2026). The influence of the Hallyu Wave on Vietnamese youth: Focusing on the case of using Korean loanwords. VNU Journal of Foreign Studies, 42(1S), 107-121. https://doi.org/10.63023/2525-2445/jfs.5777
4.
Bộ Công Thương. (2025). Kế hoạch tổng thể phát triển thương mại điện tử quốc gia giai đoạn 2026-2030.
5.
Bae, H. và Woo, K. M. (2023). The effect of “Korean Wave” on the image and the purchase of Korean goods in Vietnam. Journal of Korea Research Association of International Commerce, 23(2), 37-55.
6.
Joo, H.-Y. và Min, H. (2026). Examining the effects of Korean popular cultures on the online purchase behavior of Vietnamese consumers: Theory of planned behavior. American Journal of Business, 41(2), 57-74. https://doi.org/10.1108/AJB-05-2025-0081