What does 한류 (hallyu) mean?
- 한류hallyu
The Korean Wave
Fine in most situations
한류 (hallyu) means the Korean Wave, the worldwide popularity of Korean pop culture such as K-dramas, K-pop, movies, food and beauty. If you are reading this because you love a Korean show or group, you are part of 한류.
Where it comes from
한 refers to Korea and 류 means "flow" or "current", so it is "Korean current" or "Korean wave". It is pronounced 할류 (hallyu), which is why the romanization has a double L.
How to use 한류
The term spread from around the late 1990s, when Korean dramas and pop music became popular in China and other parts of Asia, and it grew worldwide over the following decades.
It is a neutral word used in news, schools and daily talk. People talk about 한류 스타 (hallyu stars), 한류 팬 (hallyu fans) and 한류 열풍 (hallyu fever).
Many learners say they started Korean thanks to 한류. In Korea, saying 한류 덕분에 한국어를 배워요 ("I'm learning Korean thanks to hallyu") is an easy conversation starter.
Examples
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Talking about Korean culture abroad
Explaining why you study Korean
Introducing yourself at a language exchange
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 한류 스타 | Hallyu star | A Korean celebrity famous abroad. |
| 한류 팬 | Hallyu fan | A fan of Korean pop culture. |
| 한류 열풍 | Hallyu fever | The craze for Korean culture. |
| K-컬처 | K-culture | Newer term often used alongside 한류. |
Questions learners ask
What does hallyu mean?
It means the Korean Wave, the global popularity of Korean dramas, music, movies, food and beauty.
Why is it spelled hallyu and not hanryu?
Because 한류 is pronounced 할류. The ㄴ sound changes to ㄹ before ㄹ, so it sounds like hal-lyu.
When did hallyu start?
The term became popular around the late 1990s, when Korean dramas and K-pop took off in China and other parts of Asia.