Table of contents of the English edition of the Encyclopedia of Hallyu
(Photo courtesy of the National Folk Museum of Korea)
SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea has released the first English-language encyclopedia devoted entirely to Hallyu, or the Korean Wave, offering a comprehensive guide to the country’s popular culture and everyday traditions for a global audience.
The National Folk Museum of Korea announced on Monday that it has published the English edition of the Encyclopedia of Hallyu, a landmark reference work that systematizes Korean lifestyle culture alongside globally influential exports such as K-pop, film and television. The volume is the first encyclopedia of its kind dedicated exclusively to Hallyu.
Based on the Korean-language edition published in 2024, the English version contains 347 entries and more than 600 photographs, covering subjects ranging from daily food, clothing and housing to internationally recognized cultural icons including BTS, Blackpink, the Netflix series Squid Game and the Oscar-winning film Parasite.
Entries are presented in both English and Korean, with Romanized spellings that closely follow Korean pronunciation for foods such as gimbap, tteokbokki and ramyeon.
Concepts that are difficult to translate directly are explained with cultural context in mind. Common but culturally specific expressions such as oppa, eonni and uri are accompanied by detailed explanations to help readers grasp their social meanings.
Cover of the English edition of the Encyclopedia of Hallyu
(Courtesy of the National Folk Museum of Korea)
Museum officials said the English text underwent extensive cross-review by native English-speaking specialists and Korean scholars to minimize cultural misunderstanding and ensure accuracy.
Beyond contemporary pop culture, the encyclopedia also introduces traditional folklore and customs, including dokkaebi (goblins), the magpie-and-tiger motif, floor-sitting culture (jwasik), and modern phenomena such as chimaek (fried chicken and beer), spicy instant noodles and mukbang, or food-focused broadcasts.
The work also places special emphasis on fandom culture, explaining the origins and symbolism of K-pop light sticks and collective cheering practices.
The museum said the encyclopedia aims not only to explain Korean culture to overseas readers but also to position Hallyu within broader human cultural values, fostering deeper understanding and cross-cultural empathy.
The English edition is available online through the National Folk Museum of Korea and the Korean Folk Encyclopedia websites, and in print at the museum’s gift shop.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
