Korean Dramas Meet Global Youth: The Scene of Hallyu’s Expansion

There is a case where the global spread of Hallyu began with just one Korean drama. A British teenager first became interested in Hallyu in 2013 after accidentally discovering a Korean drama on Netflix while searching for Mandarin homework.

In 2013, there were not many Asian dramas available on Netflix. What this teenager found was the Korean drama “Shut Up & Let's Go,” which focused on a high school rock band. It was Korean content he stumbled upon while looking for Chinese TV dramas to complete his homework. The drama’s soundtrack was highly appealing. The appearance of the actors and the image of Seoul were particularly striking. Korean food culture and its entertainment industry were also introduced, further sparking his curiosity.

The impression left by the Korean drama went beyond mere personal interest and became a turning point that changed the direction of his life. Five years later, this teenager moved to Seoul. Life there far exceeded his expectations, shaped by the vision planted by that single drama. Korean dramas such as “Squid Game” and “Parasite” were becoming global phenomena at that time, and the Korean music group BTS was gaining prominence on the international stage.

The Hallyu environment he experienced firsthand in Seoul eventually led this teenager to work in the Hallyu industry. He appeared in the K-pop music video “What You Waiting For” by singer Jeon Somi. That music video accumulated over 70 million views. Later, he even received an opportunity to appear in a Korean drama.

This individual’s immersion in Hallyu, which started with a single Korean drama, evolved over five years into living in Seoul, appearing in a K-pop music video, and then acting in a drama. One drama effectively transformed not only this person’s career but also the course of their life. This demonstrates that Hallyu content holds influence that goes beyond mere entertainment consumption, affecting individual choices and even life trajectories.