Examining the Global Popularity of Korean Pop Culture During the Last Three Decades

Over the past 30 years, Korean pop culture has expanded through the Korean government’s cultural diplomacy efforts with Japan and China, leading to the popularity of Korean TV dramas and music across Asia during the mid-1990s to mid-2000s, known as the Korean Wave (Hallyu). Since the early 2010s, the Korean Wave has globalized further via digital technologies and social media, influencing dramas, movies, music, video games, webtoons, language, food, and fashion. Global media platforms like Netflix, Disney + , and Apple TV have made significant investments in Korean content production and distribution, playing a crucial role in disseminating Korean pop culture worldwide. This chapter examines the collaborative efforts of the Korean government, users, cultural industries, and content creators in utilizing digital platforms and social media to shape and advance the globalization of Korean pop culture, thereby expanding its influence on a global scale.