Hallyu hitlist

The National Museum’s curator for the exhibition, Kate Morschel, gives you the low-down on what to watch and read before your visit to Hallyu!.

Whether you’re discovering K-dramas for the first time, wanting a new K-pop beat or looking for weekend viewing ideas, these picks offer an introduction to the creativity and energy that have made Korean culture a global phenomenon.

Hallyu’s success also lies in the communities it’s forged across the world – communities that begin at home, with family and friends sharing the journey together.

Cinema and dramas that shaped the Korean Wave

Start with these must-watch popular K-dramas featured in the exhibition:

• Winter Sonata (2002, PG) – often credited with sparking the first ‘K-drama boom’, this heartfelt love story set against snowy landscapes introduced global audiences to the emotional depth and beauty of Korean television.
• Kingdom (2019, MA15+) – a thrilling blend of historical drama and zombie action, Kingdom reimagines 16th-century Korea under siege from an otherworldly plague. Best saved for adults or older teens.
• Squid Game (2021, MA15+) – this global phenomenon mixes suspense, social critique and striking visual design. Not for younger audiences but a darkly gripping watch for adults looking for tension, twists and sharp social commentary.

Settle down for a night in:

• Parasite (2019, MA15+) – Director Bong Joon-ho’s Oscar-winning masterpiece is a thrilling, funny and haunting exploration of class, ambition and family. For parents and older teens.
• Oldboy (2003, R18+) – Park Chan-wook’s cult classic is one of Korea’s most influential films – stylish, intense, for adults only.
• KPop Demon Hunters (2025, PG) – an animated action-fantasy following an idol group battling billboard rankings and supernatural forces. Lighter and family-friendly with meta layering for the adults.

For family viewing or light escape:

• Reply 1988 (2015, PG) – a heartwarming story about life in Ssangmun-dong in 1988, focusing on family, friendship and young love.
• Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo (2016, PG) – a charming coming-of-age story following an aspiring weightlifter as she juggles the pressures of training, family and budding romance.
• Tastefully yours (2025, PG) serves up a beloved K-drama recipe: a worldly chaebol heir trades the bustle of the city for the quiet beauty of the countryside, discovering love and the soul of traditional Korean cuisine along the way.

Listen and move to these K-pop hits

Turn up the volume and feel the hallyu beat:

• Press play on this starter playlist, featuring hits related to the exhibition perfect for impromptu dance sessions.
• If it’s not already on repeat at home check out the soundtrack from KPop Demon Hunters.
• Enjoy the artistry of music videos and energy of fandom culture by tuning into Australia’s only nationally broadcast dedicated K-pop channel, SBS PopAsia.
• Inspired by idol choreography? Try the V&A’s online dance tutorial and learn some signature moves with friends and family.

Read Korea’s past, present and future

Get your bookmarks ready and dive into Korea’s past, present and future through these recommended titles best suited to adult readers:

• Human Acts by Han Kang (2014) – a moving reflection on courage and memory by the Noble Prize
• Beasts of a Little Land by Juhea Kim (2021) – sweeping historical fiction tracing friendship, love and survival across turbulent decades
• Pachinko by Min Jin Lee (2017) – an epic multi-generational story following a Korean family through 20th-century Japan, whose recent adaptation to screen has enthralled audiences worldwide