According to a 2023 survey conducted across 26 countries around the world, about 41 percent of respondents stated that Korean dramas (K-dramas) were very popular in their countries that year. In total, around 68 percent of respondents felt that K-dramas were generally popular even outside of dedicated fan circles.
The international rise of K-dramas
Even before the 2021 survival series "Squid Game" exploded on the international scene, K-dramas enjoyed an increase in international interest. Older K-dramas still enjoy high popularity amongst international audiences. This rise in interest has had a noticeable effect on entertainment exports, with K-drama exports having increased by over 72 percent in recent years.
K-dramas and hallyu
"Hallyu", which translates to the Korean Wave, describes the phenomenon of the rising popularity of South Korean pop culture and other cultural elements. This includes entertainment, such as K-pop and K-dramas, but also extends to other areas such as food and K-beauty. Hallyu tourism has become its own category of tourism in South Korea. While during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic only about four percent of tourists were hallyu tourists, partaking in experiences related to K-pop or other hallyu-relaed activities, by 2022 that figure had risen to almost 13 percent. Prior to the pandemic, hallyu tourism was particularly popular amongst tourists from other Asian countries, with as many as 23.3 percent of Indonesian visitors traveling to South Korea because of hallyu.
Popularity of South Korean dramas worldwide as of November 2023
people who experienced South Korean cultural content
Method of interview
Online panel
Supplementary notes
Original question: "How popular do you think Korean dramas are in your country at the moment?"
* This survey was conducted in the following 26 countries: China, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Australia, United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Russia, Turkey, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and South Africa.
Respondents count by country was as follows:
China: 1,600
Japan: 1,000
Taiwan: 800
Thailand: 900
Malaysia: 800
Indonesia: 1,200
India: 1,600
Vietnam: 900
Kazakhstan: 700
Australia: 800
U.S.: 1,400
Canada: 800
Mexico: 1,000
Brazil: 1,200
Argentina: 800
UK: 900
France: 900
Italy: 900
Spain: 800
Germany: 900
Russia: 1,000
Turkey: 900
UAE: 700
Saudi Arabia: 800
Egypt: 900
South Africa: 800
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Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange. (April 2, 2024). Popularity of South Korean dramas worldwide as of November 2023 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved October 06, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/999239/south-korea-korean-drama-popularity-worldwide/
Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange. "Popularity of South Korean dramas worldwide as of November 2023." Chart. April 2, 2024. Statista. Accessed October 06, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/999239/south-korea-korean-drama-popularity-worldwide/
Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange. (2024). Popularity of South Korean dramas worldwide as of November 2023. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: October 06, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/999239/south-korea-korean-drama-popularity-worldwide/
Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange. "Popularity of South Korean Dramas Worldwide as of November 2023." Statista, Statista Inc., 2 Apr 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/999239/south-korea-korean-drama-popularity-worldwide/
Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange, Popularity of South Korean dramas worldwide as of November 2023 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/999239/south-korea-korean-drama-popularity-worldwide/ (last visited October 06, 2024)
Popularity of South Korean dramas worldwide as of November 2023 [Graph], Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange, April 2, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/999239/south-korea-korean-drama-popularity-worldwide/