Partly driven by funding and initiatives from the South Korean government, the phenomenon known as ‘hallyu’, or the ‘Korean Wave’ began in the late 1990s, gathering momentum over the subsequent decades. This surge of popular culture from the country, influencing music, cinema, fashion and beauty first in Asia and then internationally, is the subject of this autumn exhibition at the V&A.

The first exposition of its kind, Hallyu! The Korean Wave looks directly at the nature of South Korea’s popular culture, from K-Pop bands such as BTS, through to the Gangnam Style craze of 2012 and the successes of South Korean film more recently. The popularity, acclaim and influence of the country’s creative output continues to challenge the currents of global pop culture today.