Understanding the Korean Wave

This insightful exploration of Hallyu offers a critical look at the Korean Wave's impact on global culture, making Understanding the Korean Wave essential for students and enthusiasts alike.

This book serves as a comprehensive and critical introduction to the Korean Wave, also known as Hallyu, which has emerged as a significant transnational media phenomenon. Over the past 30 years, the rapid growth of local cultural industries and the global popularity of Korean popular culture have transformed the landscape of entertainment. The author, Jin, delves into the historical, political, economic, and socio-cultural contexts that have contributed to Hallyu's initial rise and its continuing appeal across the globe.

In Understanding the Korean Wave, Jin examines the transnational cultural flows of Hallyu, exploring a variety of products and digital technologies, including television dramas, films, K-pop, online games, and webtoons. He articulates the process of cross-media convergence and the socio-political contexts that underpin the Hallyu phenomenon. The text also highlights the role of overseas fans and audiences, who act as social agents in different geo-cultural contexts, further promoting K-pop fandom.

The book concludes by posing critical questions about the sustainability of Hallyu as a global popular culture, moving beyond its roots as a fan-based regional cultural phenomenon. Each chapter includes detailed contemporary case studies and discussion questions, making this an essential resource for students of Media and Communication, Cultural Studies, Korean Studies, and Asian Studies, particularly those focused on popular culture and media, media and globalization, and East Asian culture.