The Rise of K-Culture: Discover the Korean Wave (Hallyu)

Ride the Korean Wave (Hallyu)

The last decade has seen an astronomical rise in the popularity of South Korean culture. Whether it’s platinum-smashing K-pop bands, Oscar-winning Korean-language movies, or viral mukbang videos, K-Culture is now a global phenomenon. We even have a word to describe that phenomenon: Hallyu, or ‘the Korean Wave’.

On this six-week course from Hanyang University, you’ll explore the historical and cultural origins of the Korean Wave. Through a blend of case studies, weekly readings, and in-class screenings, you’ll delve into the vibrant world of K-Culture.

Take a sensory tour of K-pop, K-drama, and Korean cuisine

Over the six weeks of the course, you’ll take a sensory tour of South Korean music, entertainment, food, and technology. As you discover new trends and new cultural phenomena, you’ll learn how they have transformed South Korean society and captured the attention of the world.

From the globalisation of Korean popular culture to the cultural power wielded by K-pop fandoms, you’ll analyse key issues relating to the rise of K-Culture.

Get to grips with digital culture and new media in South Korea

Looking beyond traditional forms of cultural production, you’ll also examine the role of digital media in South Korean society.

In the second half of the course, you’ll consider the digitalisation of the Korean economy and cultural industries. You’ll explore how live streaming and new media have contributed to the spread of K-Culture.

By the end of the course, you’ll understand the cultural trends sweeping through South Korea, and their connections to wider global phenomena like neoliberalisation, globalisation, and digitalisation.

This course is designed for anyone who would like to learn more about the increasing global interest in South Korean popular culture, known as the Korean Wave, or Hallyu in Korean.

• Understanding K-Culture Studies
• Introduction
• Understanding K-Culture Studies
• Wrap up
• K-pop and fandom studies
• Introduction
• K-pop and fandom studies
• Wrap up
• K-drama and the globalization of Korean popular culture
• Introduction
• K-drama and the globalization of Korean popular culture
• Wrap up
• K-cartoon, webtoon, and the platformization of cultural production
• Introduction
• K-cartoon, webtoon, and the platformization of cultural production
• Wrap up
• K-food culture and live streaming media (mukbang)
• Introduction
• K-food culture and live streaming media (mukbang)
• The Individualisation of South Korean eating culture
• Wrap up
• K-platform economy and super apps (Naver and Kakao)
• Introduction
• K-platform economy and super apps (Naver and Kakao)
• Wrap up