KOREA FOUNDATION

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, global consumption of Hallyu contentincreased last year, according to the 2021 Global Hallyu Trends”survey conducted jointly by the Ministry of Culture, Sports andTourism and the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange(KOFICE). The survey gathered responses from 8,500 people in 18countries.
Korean television, in the categories K-dramas andvariety shows, scored a marked increase of consumption, enjoying greatpopularity among those who have access to Korean cultural contentworldwide. Among the many factors that contribute to the globalpopularity of K-dramas, the attractiveness of the actors was reportedas the number-one appeal by 33.2 percent of the respondents. Otherreasons included the well-constructed narratives, which was ranked thehighest by 28.8 percent of respondents, the ability to indirectlyexperience Korean life at 24.9 percent, the diversity of genres andthemes at 21.0 percent, and the uniqueness of Korean culture at 20.7percent.
In the case of variety shows, 32.9 percent of therespondents picked fun games and themes as the largest source ofappeal, with concepts and formats following at 24.9 percent, theability to indirectly experience Korean life at 23.5 percent,entertainers’ personalities at 23 percent, and the uniqueness ofKorean culture at 21.7 percent.

* This infographic was produced based on the 2021 Global Hallyu Trendssurvey.

K-Dramas/K-Varietypopularity