Misunderstanding the Korean Wave

This book examines ten of the most common myths surrounding the Korean Wave in relation to its histories, theories, and practices. Dal Yong Jin explores several major misconceptions that are frequently encountered in relation to Hallyu, with each chapter examining one major myth. Through discussion of these myths, this book offers a foundation for students, scholars, and global Hallyu fans to reflect more critically on these issues. The book extends the empirical and theoretical boundaries of the existing studies of Hallyu by critically investigating its global circulation and reception across different geo-cultural locations, and theoretically develops an evidence-based, critical framework for understanding the complexities and contradictions of cultural globalization, rather than perpetuating a mythologized perception of the Hallyu phenomenon. The discussions in this book comprehensively and historically shed light on the current debates on the role of Hallyu in the global cultural sphere—from political, economic, and cultural studies perspectives—and make a significant theoretical and empirical contribution to media studies, Asian studies, and globalization studies. This book will be highly appealing to students, scholars, as well as general readers who are interested in the Korean Wave, media globalization, and contemporary digital culture.