Hallyu! The Korean Wave: The Curatorial Roundtable

May 16, 2024 - Today, South Korea is a cultural superpower-a global trendsetter producing award-winning films like Parasite, riveting dramas like Squid Game, and chart-topping music by K-pop groups such as BTS and BLACKPINK. But behind the country’s meteoric rise to the world stage, a phenomenon known as the Korean Wave, or hallyu, is the story of remarkable resilience and innovation.
Just a century ago, Korea was in search of a new national identity, following its occupation by Japan and the Korean War. Harnessing cutting-edge technology, the country has rapidly transformed its economy and international reputation. At the same time, its creative outputs are deeply rooted in its past, with many contemporary artists, filmmakers, musicians, and fashion designers paying tribute to traditional values and art forms dating back to Korea’s dynastic kingdom days.
Hallyu! The Korean Wave features approximately 250 objects-costumes, props, photographs, videos, pop culture ephemera, and contemporary works-providing an immersive and multisensory journey through a fascinating history, and a celebration of a vibrant creative force that bridges cultural, societal, and linguistic divides and continues to reach new heights today.
First presented at Victoria and Albert Museum, London, the exhibition is currently at Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and will travel to Asian Art Museum, San Francisco.
Three curators-Rosalie Kim, Victoria and Albert Museum; Christina Yu Yu, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; and Yoon-Jee Choi, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco-discuss this captivating exhibition and South Korea's rise as a cultural superpower.
For more information, please visit the link below:
www.koreasociety.org/arts-cul...

[@Mishaseymour]

For me it started with K-drama, Crash Landing On You. That inspired my fascination with all things Korean from language to history.

[@norabrosseau3271]

I attended the exhibit yesterday. It was fabulous. So much was covered. I was surprised how much I knew and I loved learning more. Thank you. There was a lovely mix of ages, genders and races at the exhibit. Beautiful to see the interest.

[@ccferrar]

I am a curatorial graduate student writing my thesis on k-pop visual culture, so excited to see this exhibition in person at the end of may!

[@MrsStrawberry98]

This exhibition looks very interesting and put well together. I would love to see this exhibition in the Netherlands!