Korean culture wave crashes onto Australian shores

From Gangnam Style to Squid Game, BTS to Parasite, Korean culture has made its mark on Australia and the world.

Now a new exhibition has been launched in the nation's capital, celebrating the rich collection of Korean films, TV shows, fashion and music which have become global hits.

Visitors to the National Museum of Australia in Canberra are greeted by the towering "Young-Hee" doll, made famous on the Netflix show Squid Game.

The exhibition - Hallyu! The Korean Wave - features the suit used by Psy in the Gangnam Style music video and other outfits from some of the world's biggest KPop groups are on display.

Curator Rosalie Kim, from London's Victoria and Albert Museum, said Canberra was the final stop for the exhibition after showings in Boston, San Francisco and Zurich.

"It's really exciting to see this object that we've been touring the world coming to an end here," she told reporters.

"Korean culture is really everywhere," Dr Kim said.

"Many of us are actually using Korean things without really realising. Sometimes you might be using a Korean mobile phone, a Korean TV, a washing machine, a fridge."

While focusing predominantly on Korean culture from the past decade, the exhibition also showcases a long history of innovation, mapping the nation's story since being colonised by Japan in the early 20th century.

On display is a replica of a movable-type printing press from 1377, one of the earliest examples of the technology.

Museum director Katherine McMahon said the venue would be running dance workshops and food classes to tie in with the exhibition.

"We think this show is going to be incredibly successful," she told reporters.

The exhibition runs until May 10, 2026.