SEOUL, February 03 (AJP) -South Korea has released the world’s first English-language encyclopedia devoted entirely to Hallyu, offering global readers a systematic and in-depth guide to Korean popular culture and everyday life, the National Folk Museum of Korea said Monday.
The Encyclopedia of Hallyu is the English edition of a Korean-language reference work first published in 2024. Compiled to help international audiences better understand the cultural context behind the global rise of Korean culture, the volume brings together 347 key entries spanning K-content, lifestyle and traditional culture.
The encyclopedia features 347 entries that trace the evolution and breadth of Hallyu, from globally influential K-pop artists such as BTS, BLACKPINK and BoA to landmark works including Squid Game and Parasite. Beyond pop culture exports, it also documents everyday Korean life — spanning food, fashion, housing, leisure and social practices — to help readers understand how contemporary Korean culture is formed and experienced.
More than 600 photographs are included to aid understanding, and 129 Korean and international scholars participated in the project to ensure academic rigor.
To improve accessibility, each entry is presented in English alongside its Korean name. Rather than translating terms into approximate English equivalents, the editors adopted Romanized Korean spellings — such as gimbap, tteokbokki and ramyeon — to preserve original meanings. Brief explanations are also provided to help readers grasp unfamiliar concepts at a glance.
Special care was taken to adapt culturally specific expressions for foreign readers. Concepts that are difficult to translate directly, such as jeong (a form of emotional bond), oppa and unni, are explained with cultural context rather than literal definitions. All translations underwent cross-review by native English-speaking editors and Korean specialists to minimize cultural misunderstanding.
The encyclopedia is also designed as a companion guide for global fans of Korean content. Entries range from folklore figures like the dokkaebi (goblin) and jeoseung saja (grim reaper) to contemporary cultural markers such as mukbang, idol fandoms and official light sticks, which are explained not merely as merchandise but as symbols of Korea’s participatory fan culture.
Both English and Korean tables of contents are provided, and an expanded visual index combining original terms, Romanization, definitions and representative images allows users to browse the book intuitively.
The English edition is available online for free download via the National Folk Museum of Korea website and the Korean Folk Encyclopedia portal, and is also sold at the museum’s gift shop for visitors interested in Hallyu and Korean culture.
Cultural officials said the publication is intended to go beyond explaining trends, serving instead as a bridge for global readers to understand Korean culture within the broader context of world heritage and shared human values.
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