From K-Pop to K-Fashion

The exhibition Hallyu! The Korean Wave at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London explores the makings of the Korean Wave across four thematic sections. The first part highlights how South Korea rapidly evolved from a country ravaged by war in the late 1950s to a leading cultural powerhouse by the early 2000s, while the second one focuses on the success of K-drama and film, and their rise in popularity since the late 1990s, through multimedia, posters, storyboards, and costumes. The third section delves into the explosion of K-Pop music around the world, and the final part presents K-beauty and fashion, showcasing their innovative approach that led to new aesthetic standards. The exhibition features around 200 objects, from the world’s first commercial MP3 player, to the iconic costumes from hit Netflix series Squid Game and cosmetics packaging from the 13th century.