respondents who experienced South Korean music contents
Method of interview
Online panel
Supplementary notes
This survey was conducted in the following 30 countries: the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, India, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, China, Australia, Kazakhstan, Japan, Mexico, Chile, Brazil, the United States, Argentina, Canada, the United Kingdom, Turkey, France, Germany, Spain, Poland, Italy, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and South Africa.
In a 2025 survey conducted across 30 countries worldwide, around **** percent of respondents stated that a factor working in favor of K-pop was that the music itself was good. Other commonly named factors included the outstanding performances and the appearance as well as charms of the singers themselves.
K-pop
During the past decade, Korean pop music has become popular in countries all around the world. In a survey about the popularity of K-pop in their home country, almost half of all respondents reported that it was very popular to the point that not only enthusiasts but also ordinary people knew of it. K-pop mainly revolves around boy and girl groups, which consist of multi-talented singers and dancer. The industry is known for being extremely competitive, and having a dedicated fanbase.
Hallyu
At first glance it might seem that the success has come out of nowhere, but the South Korean government has strategically sold cultural content first in Asia and then in the rest of the world. "Hallyu", the so-called "Korean wave", has had an immense positive effect on the South Korean economy. For example, a report estimates that the three concerts held by the boy group BTS in Seoul in 2019 have a total direct and indirect impact of around *** billion South Korean won. As of 2024, BTS were still the most popular K-pop artist worldwide.
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Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange. (March 30, 2026). Main reasons for South Korean pop music's (K-pop) popularity worldwide as of December 2025 [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. Retrieved July 30, 2026, from /statistics/937260/south-korea-reasons-for-kpop-popularity-worldwide/
Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange. "Main reasons for South Korean pop music's (K-pop) popularity worldwide as of December 2025." Chart. March 30, 2026. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. Accessed July 30, 2026. /statistics/937260/south-korea-reasons-for-kpop-popularity-worldwide/
Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange. (2026). Main reasons for South Korean pop music's (K-pop) popularity worldwide as of December 2025. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 30, 2026. /statistics/937260/south-korea-reasons-for-kpop-popularity-worldwide/
Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange. "Main Reasons for South Korean Pop Music's (K-pop) Popularity Worldwide as of December 2025." ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Inc., 30 Mar 2026, /statistics/937260/south-korea-reasons-for-kpop-popularity-worldwide/
Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange, Main reasons for South Korean pop music's (K-pop) popularity worldwide as of December 2025 ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ, /statistics/937260/south-korea-reasons-for-kpop-popularity-worldwide/ (last visited July 30, 2026)
Main reasons for South Korean pop music's (K-pop) popularity worldwide as of December 2025 [Graph], Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange, March 30, 2026. [Online]. Available: /statistics/937260/south-korea-reasons-for-kpop-popularity-worldwide/