As I am sure you are aware, in 2024 Korean influence has traveled around the world to most corners of the globe. So what has made K-influence so successful all of a sudden? Here is what we know so far.
The pandemic of 2020 led to people staying at home, and as a result, during this time, it also gave Korea a chance to start thinking about how it can gain an influence on other countries. Influencing other countries can be a MASSIVE game changer for Korea, which has become evident in recent months, especially in 2024!
Korean language learners from overseas have increased, with foreign students coming to Korea to study Korean and people taking Korean language classes in their own countries. Learning Korean has surged so much, that it is now the 6th most popular language to learn in 2024. What does this mean for Korea? With its low birth rate and interest from other countries, Korea could gain a more multicultural society in the next couple of years. The widespread popularity of K-pop groups like BTS, TV dramas such as Squid Game, and Korean films like Parasite has generated international fascination with various facets of Korean culture, including its language.
K-beauty has also increased its influence in overseas markets. Now, Korean beauty brands have taken the world by storm in recent years and it has taken advantage of the K-Wave. With the success of K-pop artists, it has been easy for brands to collaborate with them to promote their products to their fan bases, and why not?!
An example of Korean pop culture’s widespread popularity is the K-pop group — BTS having a huge fanbase across the globe. One reason for K-Beauty’s growing popularity is the desire to achieve the “glass skin” look that is trendy in Korean dramas and pop culture. Celebrities in South Korea often use the best skincare products and undergo specialized beauty treatments to achieve this look. No wonder people from overseas have wanted to achieve the same!
K-pop really took off for me with PYS's single "Gangnam Style" and I remember when I was younger, it was very popular in the UK. It has since left an impression of Korea for many Western people as a cool, bizarre, and truly interesting place to visit, and I think that PSY led the way for K-pop to become popular in Western countries.
Of course, over time this has changed (K-Pop started in the late 1980's to early 1990's) but it has recently received a lot of attention. If you are still new to K-pop and don’t know much about K-pop music, think about pop groups like One Direction, Little Mix, and Fifth Harmony in America. They are closer to the concept of K-pop idols or the best K-pop groups.
Now the world is crazy about BTS and we can call K-pop a global phenomenon because all over the world everyone is eager to know what K-pop is and what groups are popular in South Korea. From the popularity of K-pop at the global level, we can mention BTS’s Grammy nomination and their performance on important music stages such as the Billboard ceremony, the Grammy ceremony and the AMAs ceremony, and BLACKPINK's big performance at the Coachella festival, which was viewed by millions.
Let us know your reasons why you think K-culture is so big in 2024 in the comments below!