The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) of South Korea and the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE) released the results of the 2024 Overseas Hallyu (Korean Wave) Survey.
Korean Wave refers to the rise in popularity of Korean pop culture content. The survey was done to know the awareness of Korean Wave content in different countries.
The survey was held from Nov. 10 to 30 last year among 25,000 respondents in 26 countries and regions: China, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Kazakhstan, Australia, US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Russia, Turkmenistan, Turkey, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, South Africa,
Results showed that seven out of 10 people (68.8 percent) who experienced the Korean Wave have a favorable opinion of Korean cultural content.
The countries with the highest favorable ratings for Korean cultural content were Indonesia (86.3 percent), India (84.5 percent), Thailand, United Arab Emirates (83 percent), and Vietnam (82.9 percent).
Respondents were asked the first image that came to their minds when they thought of South Korea.
K-pop is No. 1 with 17.2 percent. K-pop has been the top choice for seven consecutive years since 2017.
Second is Korean food (13.2 percent), Korean drama (7 percent), information technology (IT) products/brands (6.3 percent), and beauty products (5.2 percent).
In the survey, the respondents were also asked to name their current favorite Korean dramas, movies, actors and singers.
Here are results of the 2024 Overseas Hallyu (Korean Wave) Survey:
FAVORITE KOREAN WAVE SINGER
BTS emerged again as the No. 1 favorite Korean Wave singer in the survey, garnering 29.1 percent, compared to 31.2 percent in 2022 and 26.7 percent in 2021.
In the latest survey, BLACKPINK placed second again with 13.1 percent, up from 10.8 percent in 2022.
Rapper Psy is in third place with 2.9 percent, compared to 2.6 percent in 2022.
BTS’ Jungkook landed in fourth place with 2.7 percent while IU is in fifth place with 2.1 percent, up from 1.7 (fifth place) in 2022.
2023 Favorite Singers
1. BTS - 29.1%
2. BLACKPINK - 13.1%
3. Psy - 2.9 percent
4. BTS’ Jungkook - 2.7%
5. IU - 2.1%
Favorite Korean Singers from 2019 to 2023
2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 1. BTS - 15.2% | 1. BTS - 22% | 1. BTS - 26.7% | 1. BTS - 31.3% | 1. BTS - 29.1% |
| 2. BLACKPINK - 6.5% | 2. BLACKPINK - 13.5% | 2. BLACKPINK - 10.4% | 2. BLACKPINK - 10.8% | 2. BLACKPINK - 13.1% |
| 3. Psy - 5.7% | 3. Psy - 2.9% | 3. IU - 2.8% | 3. Psy - 2.6% | 3. Psy - 2.9% |
| 4. TWICE - 2.8% | 4. TWICE - 2.4% | 4. Lisa - 2.4% | 4. TWICE - 1.8% | 4. Jungkook - 2.7% |
| 5. Big Bang - 2.5% | 5. EXO - 2.1% | 5. Psy - 2.2% | 5. IU - 1.7% | 5. IU - 2.1% |
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(Clockwise from top ) BTS, BLACKPINK, Psy, BTS’ Jungkook and IU (Photos: Big Hit Music, Instagram)
FAVORITE KOREAN WAVE ACTOR
Korean actor Lee Min-ho is the No. 1 choice for favorite actor again in the survey. According to the report, since its creation, Lee Min-ho has ranked first in the actor category for 10 consecutive years.
For 2024, Lee Min-ho received 6.4 percent, followed by Hyun Bin, 3.4 percent; Song Hye-kyo, 2.7 percent; Gong Yoo, 2.2 percent; and Lee Jong-suk, 2 percent.
In the 2023 survey, Lee Min-ho got 9.1 percent.
2023 Favorite Korean Wave Actor
1. Lee Min-ho - 6.4%
2. Hyun Bin - 3.4%
3. Song Hye-kyo - 2.7%
4. Gong Yoo - 2.2%
5. Lee Jong-suk - 2%
Favorite Korean Wave Actors from 2019 to 2023
2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 1. Lee Min-ho - 7.6% | 1. Lee Min-ho - 9.6% | 1. Lee Min-ho -9.3% | 1. Lee Min-ho - 9.1% | 1. Lee Min-ho - 6.4% |
| 2. Song Hye-kyo- 3.4% | 2. Hyun Bin- 3.5% | 2. Hyun Bin - 3.1% | 2. Gong Yoo - 2.7% | 2. Hyun Bin - 3.4% |
| 3. Song Joong-ki- 1.9% | 3. Gong Yoo - 2.3% | 3. Gong Yoo - 2.8% | 3. Hyun Bin - 2.4% | 3. Song Hye-kyo - 2.7% |
| 4. Gong Yoo - 1.8% | 4. Song Hye-kyo - 2.1% | 4. Song Hye-kyo - 2.2% | 4. Song Hye-kyo - 2% | 4. Gong Yoo - 2.2% |
| 5. Bae Suzy - 1.7% | 5. Lee Jong-suk - 2% | 5. Song Joong-ki- 2.1% | 5. Lee Jong-suk - 1.6% | 5. Lee Jong-suk - 2% |
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(Clockwise from top right) Lee Min-ho, Hyun Bin, Song Hye-kyo, Gong Yoo and Lee Jong-suk (Photos: Jonathan Hicap, Instagram, Netflix)
FAVORITE KOREAN DRAMA
For the third straight year, Netflix’s “Squid Game” is No. 1 as the favorite Korean drama with 7.9 percent, down from 10.3 percent in 2021 and 9.1 percent in 2022.
“The Glory,” which starred Song Hye-kyo, is in second place with 3.4 percent followed by “King the Land” with 2.6 percent, “Crash Landing on You” with 2.2 percent, and “Black Knight” with 1.6 percent.
In 2022, the top five were “Squid Game,” 11.3 percent; “Extraordinary Attorney Woo,” 2.8 percent; “All of Us Are Dead,” 2.6 percent; “Business Proposal,” 1.9%; and “Crash Landing on You,” 1.9 percent
2023 favorite Korean dramas:
1. Squid Games - 9%
2. The Glory - 3.4%
3. King the Land - 2.6%
4. Crash Landing on You - 2.2%
5. Black Knight - 1.6%
Favorite Korean Dramas from 2019 to 2023
2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 1. Hotel Del Luna - 8.2% | 1.Crash Landing on You - 9.5% | 1. Squid Game - 21.2% | 1. Squid Game - 11.3% | 1. Squid Game - 9% |
| 2. Descendants of the Sun - 3% | 2. It’s Okay to Not Be Okay- 4.1% | 2. Crash Landing on You - 2.2% | 2. Extraordinary Attorney Woo - 2.8% | 2. The Glory - 3.4% |
| 3. Jewel in the Palace - 2.3% | 3. The World of the Married - 2.8% | 3. Vincenzo - 1.9% | 3. All of Us Are Dead - 2.6% | 3. King the Land - 2.6% |
| 4. Kingdom - 2.1% | 4. Itaewon Class - 2.8% | 4. Penthouse - 1.6% | 4. Business Proposal - 1.9% | 4. Crash Landing on You - 2.2% |
| 5. Goblin - 2% | 5. Kingdom - 2.5% | 5. Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha - 1.4% | 5. Crash Landing on You - 1.9% | 5. Black Knight - 1.6% |
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"Squid Game" (Netflix)
FAVORITE KOREAN MOVIE
For the fifth straight year, the Oscar-winning film “Parasite” topped the survey with 7.9 percent.
The 2016 zombie film “Train to Busan,” starring Gong Yoo, grabbed second place with 6 percent followed by “Unlocked” with 2.4 percent, “Ballerina” with 2 percent and “Phantom” with 1.7 percent.
2023 favorite Korean movies
1. Parasite - 7.9%
2. Train to Busan - 6%
3. Unlocked - 2.4%
4. Ballerina - 2%
5. Phantom - 1.7%
"Parasite" (Barunson E&A, CJ ENM)
Favorite Korean Movies from 2019 to 2023
2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 1. Parasite - 12.4% | 1. Parasite - 18.4% | 1. Parasite - 10.3% | 1. Parasite - 9.1% | 1. Parasite - 7.9% |
| 2. Train to Busan - 7.9% | 2. Train to Busan - 10.2% | 2. Train to Busan - 6.8% | 2. Train to Busan - 6.9% | 2. Train to Busan - 6% |
| 3. Extreme Job - 3.1% | 3. Peninsula - 3.5% | 3. Seobok - 1.5% | 3. Carter - 2.5% | 3. Unlocked - 2.4% |
| 4. Along with the Gods - 2% | 4. #Alive - 2.1% | 4. Midnight - 1.3% | 4. Hunt - 2% | 4. Ballerina - 2% |
| 5. Exit - 1.5% | 5. Time to Hunt - 1.6% | 5. Space Sweepers - 1.3% | 5. 20th Century Girl - 1.8% | 5. Phantom - 1.7% |