Once the Korean series is over, the next thing Warakorn Panithanarak does is google a cute and compact powder case she has just seen one of the characters take out from her purse.
‘‘[The package] was so cute and attractive,’’ said the 21-year-old Thammasat University student. That cute little compact case led her into a world of pretty little things from Etude and Skin Food, two of the most popular Korean cosmetic brands among youngThais today.
Even better, these cosmetics turn out to be affordable enough to allow youths to wear light make-up similar to the beautiful females portrayed in the dramas.
Korean drama — a part of the ‘‘Korean Wave’’ — now works as an inter-Asia advertising medium, says Assoc Prof Ubonrat Siriyuvasak, an expert on media and culture.
Take a look around Bangkok and you’ll see an increasing number of Korean restaurants. The youths sport spiky haircuts like those worn by K-pop singers, and the girls put on light make-up to further enhance the size of their ‘‘Big Eye Circle’’ contact lenses.
Warakorn and her friends enjoy the affordable cute Korean cosmetics while her family has become big fans of Samsung and LG products since the 10-year-long economic crisis has made such electronic devices very affordable; even cheaper than items imported from Japan.
Another K-pop fan is 20-year-old Unchisa Charoensawadsiri. Although she’s still loyal to Thai cosmetic brands, the Chulalongkorn University student agrees that the fine quality of K-pop songs have slightly changed her perspective on Korean products. That is, if the songs and singers meet these high standards, then products born from Korea, including electrical appliances, should be on the same par, she says.
‘‘Now we are beginning to perceive that Samsung is better than Sony,’’ said Ubonrat.