The Korean Wave

Hallyu (The Korean Wave) is the name for the phenomenon of Korean popular culture that is spreading across the World. In particular, Korean dramas and films have earned worldwide recognition for their artistic values.

The success of Hallyu is not a coincidence. It is the result of co-operative efforts integrating Korea's 5,000 year cultural development, creative efforts by media experts, sensitivity toward international trends, and state-of-the-art media technology.

South Korea currently has the world's 9th largest film market, and its entertainment companies are able to finance TV dramas and movies with production values much higher than in much of Asia. Korean male celebrities are now among the highest-paid actors outside Hollywood.

The Korean Wave began with the export of Korean TV dramas such as Winter Sonata and Dae Jang Geum across East and Southeast Asia. Originally, many Asian television companies broadcasted Korean dramas because the productions were moderately priced and seemed good value for money. But as more Korean dramas were shown, their popularity grew.

The Korean Wave is a source of pride for many Koreans. However, the phenomenon does not extend to North Korean shows or movies, which have never found a large audience abroad.

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