The first exhibition of its kind to showcase one of the most influential global cultural movements of our time, Hallyu! The Korean Wave opened on Friday 12 December, exclusively at the National Museum of Australia.
Developed by the renowned Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum in London, and the vision of Dr Rosalie Kim, Curator, V&A, this groundbreaking exhibition deep-dives into the Korean creative industry and the impact of this cultural juggernaut on global cinema, drama, music, fandom, tech, beauty and fashion.
Hallyu, meaning ‘Korean wave’, refers to the phenomenon of Korean popular culture exports, which are synonymous with addictive pop hooks, binge-worthy film and dramas, innovative tech, edgy fashion, offbeat beauty trends and moreish street food.
Few would be unaware of Korea’s first true global cultural breakthrough in the viral video hit, ‘Gangnam Style’, by the artist PSY in 2012.
‘Gangnam Style’ was the first YouTube video to reach 1 billion views, and arguably transformed YouTube into the primary global music launchpad it became.
At the 2020 Academy Awards, the 2019 Korean film Parasite achieved what Korea had never done before, becoming the first non-English-language film to win Best Picture and the first Korean film to win any Oscar, let alone four.
In 2021, Netflix series Squid Game became the platform’s most-watched series ever shortly after it was released.
And now in 2025, it seems there aren’t many Australian primary school children who aren’t watching KPop Demon Hunters on repeat. As a result, the animated film with an award-winning soundtrack has become Netflix’s most-watched film ever.
Is it luck that has Korea now proving that it can set, not just emulate, global pop culture?
Not according to National Museum Senior Curator Kate Morschel, who spoke at the exhibition’s launch on Friday, where a special performance by Australian K-pop dance group DARE Crew exemplified the momentum of hallyu, which shows no signs of easing.
“The 20th century was a very turbulent period for Korea… The expression of hallyu and its various forms today has been the result of very strategic government policies and the support of investment in arts and culture and creatives, but also generations of Koreans that have seen their culture change over time and want to celebrate it and express it to the world”, Ms Morschel says.
“Hallyu is a contemporary cultural movement. It’s happening now and people are deeply immersed in it, in all its expressions.”
Dr Kim agrees that hallyu was, and is, a result of intentional development on the Korean peninsula.
“Hallyu is actually… a consequence. And so, the hybridity that many people talk about in K-pop, for example, and in cinema comes from this heavy historical, sort of development.
When Dr Kim started thinking about hallyu as an exhibition around 2017 – 2018, she wanted it to be a way for people to explore Korean history.
“I want people to understand that hallyu is not just something… nice and entertaining… It’s very much anchored in Korean history and Korean culture, and we are taking this opportunity to attract people with Hallyu! The Korean Wave and then show them something bigger behind it,” Dr Kim says.
The interactive and multi-sensory exhibition, featuring more than 250 objects, combines music, tech, costumes, film props, video, photographs and pop culture ephemera to explore the living cultural movement that is Hallyu.
Exhibition highlights include the pink suit worn by rapper PSY in the Gangnam Style video; iconic Squid Game guard and player costumes; giant Young-hee Doll; fashion; an interactive K-pop dance challenge and the iconic bathroom set from Parasite.
Hallyu! The Korean Wave is on show at the National Museum of Australia until 10 May 2026. Hallyu and Beyond is a free atrium display and is on show at the Museum for the duration of the Hallyu! exhibition.
