Popular Culture as Hallyu, Find Your Memories in the Parentheses

Exhibition at the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History until September 3

‘The [ ] We Loved, and Hallyu’

The answer inside the brackets in the title of the exhibition that started on the 19th at the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History is left open to the visitors. Within the broad theme of popular culture, individuals can fill in their personal memories. For some, it might be Chow Yun-fat from the golden age of Hong Kong cinema, while for others, it could be Seo Taiji, who transformed the domestic music market.

Past Activities of the US 8th Army and the Performance Costume Worn by Singer Hyunmi [Photo by National Museum of Korean Contemporary History]

The exhibition presents 720 items showcasing Korean popular culture from the 1950s to the 21st century as possible answers for the bracketed space. The starting point is right after liberation. It displays the record of Ok Du-ok (real name Kim Moon-chan), who first entered the U.S. market in 1956, and the autographed record of the Kim Sisters, the first Korean girl group to enter the U.S. market in 1959, which was also the first in Asia. Additionally, for the first time, the performance costume and invitation letter of singer Hyun-mi, who was active in the U.S. 8th Army and passed away last April, are exhibited. These music pieces can be directly listened to at the ‘Music Listening Room’ experience corner.

Photo by Seomideum

The exhibition also features foreign cultures that nourished Hallyu memories. Along with the spread of home video, about 400 videos, including Hong Kong movies that enjoyed popularity comparable to today’s Hollywood in the 1970s, fill one side of the exhibition hall. Visitors can insert VHS tapes into a player and watch the videos on-site.

Photo by Seo Mideum

Japanese manga magazines, which gained popularity even before their official distribution in Korea in 1998, also welcome visitors. The first issues of popular manga magazines such as 'Dragon Ball' and 'Slam Dunk,' as well as records, allow visitors to see Japanese content that was distributed as pirated versions before official release.

Through magazines and newspapers from around the world that introduced Korean culture spreading globally in the 2000s as ‘Hallyu,’ visitors can learn how the world views Hallyu.

Photo by Seo Mideum

Domestic fandom culture also forms a corner of the exhibition. Items related to fandoms of singers such as HOT and Sechs Kies are displayed. Through an album made by a fan who followed SES, collecting photos and photo cards taken personally, visitors can glimpse the fandom culture of K-pop. Along with cheering placards, numerous idol light sticks lent by fans for the exhibition show the evolving cheering culture through the ages.

An experience space is also prepared. Through ‘Random Play Dance with People Around the World,’ visitors can share excitement with young people dancing to K-pop in Europe and Asia. In the karaoke experience, visitors can sing 1990s remake songs among the recent popular idol songs. AR experiences and poster experiences offer opportunities to appear directly in Hallyu dramas and movies.

Han Soo, director of the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History, stated, “The remarkable achievements of Korean popular culture leading up to K-Culture are the fruits borne from the love of each and every fan worldwide,” and added, “We hope many fans will take pride as the true protagonists of Hallyu while viewing this exhibition.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.