[Photograph by Yoo Dae-gil = dbeorlf123@ajunews.com]
SEOUL -- About 90 million people around the world belong to Hallyu (Korean cultural wave)-related social clubs and cultural societies, a state-funded body under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reported in the latest issue of its annual survey.
Korea Foundation, a non-profit organization which promotes a better understanding of Korean culture, reported that 89.1 million people are active members of 1,843 Hallyu-related clubs around the world in 2018, up 22 percent from a year ago. The foundation estimates that there will be more than 100 million Hallyu fans worldwide in 2020.
K-pop band BTS contributed to attracting Hallyu fans and improved the image and value of K-pop in the United States, the foundation said, adding female Hallyu fans formed a mainstream consumer base in markets such as cosmetics and tourism.
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