What begins as a ripple can become a global tidal wave. For Australian audiences, that wave is unmistakably Korean, washing over our shores with the infectious beat of Gangnam Style, the gripping tension of Squid Game, and the fiery tang of kimchi now found on supermarket shelves.
The First Ripples: From Santo Domingo to Sydney
For Korean diplomat Jimin Kim, the first hint of this cultural tsunami came in an unlikely place: the Dominican Republic in 2012. While driving in the Caribbean nation, he heard the familiar strains of Psy's Gangnam Style on local radio. "They were playing a Korean singer, singing in Korean language in Santo Domingo, in a Spanish-speaking country where they're not familiar with Asian culture," recalls Kim, now the Chargé d'Affaires at the Korean Embassy in Australia. That moment signalled the start of a phenomenon that would soon engulf the world, including Australia.
Thirteen years later, the Korean Wave, or 'Hallyu', has transformed from a curious ripple into a dominant cultural force in Australia. It's visible in the 160,000 Koreans now calling Australia home, the 41% surge in Australian visits to South Korea since 2019, and the K-beauty aisles in our chemists. This cultural conquest culminates in a landmark exhibition, 'Hallyu! The Korean Wave', opening at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra on December 12.
More Than K-Pop: A Nation's Story on Display
The exhibition, featuring over 250 objects from the original Victoria & Albert Museum show, is far more than a celebration of pop music. It traces South Korea's dramatic journey from the trauma of war and poverty to becoming a global cultural powerhouse. National Museum director Katherine McMahon sees it as a perfect fit. "It's about this cultural phenomenon... But actually, underneath it is a very credible and serious exhibition," she explains. It connects the dots from historical struggles to the creative explosion that gave us Oscar-winner Parasite and Netflix's Squid Game.
The decision to host this contemporary show follows the museum's highly successful ancient history exhibitions on Pompeii and Egypt. McMahon notes a strategic shift: "They brought in new audiences... The demographic was very broad, and the age was, on average, younger." She believes the museum is ideally positioned to explore the vibrant contemporary culture of a key regional neighbour.
The Engine Behind the Wave: Policy, Passion, and Pain
The roots of Hallyu run deep. Curator Rosalie Kim of the V&A Museum notes its origins in the 1990s, as South Korea emerged from a difficult history. Following the 1997 economic crash, the government, led by former president Kim Dae-jung, made a pivotal decision. Observing the soft power of American and British entertainment, they launched a strategic, state-supported investment in the creative sector. This top-down push, combined with a grassroots fan-driven energy, created an unstoppable momentum.
Jimin Kim believes the emotional depth of Korean cinema and TV stems directly from the nation's compressed history. "From colonial rule to devastation from the war, poverty, and then from authoritarianism to democracy... all happened in a period of one century," he says. This potent mix of sorrow, joy, sacrifice, and resilience is the secret sauce resonating with global audiences, offering more than just entertainment—it's a cultural gut-punch that feels profoundly human.
The 'Hallyu! The Korean Wave' exhibition runs at the National Museum of Australia from December 12, 2025, to May 10, 2026. It represents not just a look at a trendy moment, but a deep dive into how a nation's story, told through art, fashion, film, and music, can capture the heart of the world—and of Australia.
