Squid Game, Parasite and BTS… they’re all part of the K-wave. An influx of Korean culture has entered the West, bringing with it Korean cultural norms, thought and soft power. Soon, Korean philosophy will be next. The fruits of this influx of culture will be positive for both Korea and the West, writes Hannah Kim.

In my senior year of high school, Psy’s “Gangnam Style” went viral, eventually becoming the first YouTube video to reach a billion views. Lacrosse Bros and Theater Kids alike learned the dance. As the only Korean in my grade, I was baffled by its popularity. They couldn’t even understand the lyrics!

But clearly the South Korean cultural industry cracked some kind of code. BTS (방탄소년단) is a global phenomenon, accumulating five US #1 singles faster than Michael Jackson did and collecting thirteen Guiness records on the way. Parasite (기생충) won two Academy Awards last year, including Best Picture, and Squid Game (오징어 게임) has been viewed over 313 million times, making it the most popular Netflix show to date. K-dramas have been all the rage since the 90’s, K-beauty products are a staple in global skincare franchises, and Korean cuisine is also gaining popularity.