Hallyu!: The Korean Wave

From Squid Game to BTS, V&A Asian Department curator Rosalie Kim’s Hallyu! shows how Korean pop culture has swept the world.

South Korea has transformed from a country devastated by war in the late 1950s to a leading cultural powerhouse of the 21st century. Through the voices of fans, journalists, practitioners, and academics, Hallyu! explores the makings of the Korean Wave of cultural influence over the interlinked creative industries of cinema, drama, music, fandom, beauty, and fashion.

K-pop legends such as Psy, Blackpink, and BTS, and films and dramas such as Parasite and Squid Game, feature alongside Webtoon comic strips, catwalk shots, contemporary hanbok clothing, and cosmetics packaging—just some of the illustrations that capture the creative, colorful, and dynamic popular culture of South Korea.