The Influence and Impact That Korean Culture Has On India

As odd as it may seem, India and Korea have more similarities than you can imagine. They certainly have their differences in a lot of aspects, but the similarities are uncanny. The Hallyu culture promoted by K-pop and K-dramas has influenced India to a large extent. Most people who are interested in watching and listening to Korean culture have even tried to learn their language as a way to understand them better.

Due to BTS, the pioneers of K-pop and anything korean in general, Indians have a newfound interest in Korean culture. They have an incredible following in India, and the popularity of Korean TV series has increased significantly in times of the pandemic. Despite the xenophobic and racist nature of some people, Koreans and their art forms have made their way into the hearts of Indians.

Along with BTS, other groups have influenced the Indian mindset with songs that teach people to love themselves, lyrics that are written by the members, themselves about their journey and music that touches your soul and makes you feel good about the world. Groups like Blackpink, Got7, EXO, Twice, etc., have played a massive role in promoting K-pop and Korea in India as well as the rest of the world. Their lifestyle news is always trending on social media.

Not only K-pop but K-dramas have also won the hearts of Indians. With their good-looking actors and actresses, with an outstanding sense of dressing, they give a glimpse into the world that is unknown to us. Some famous dramas like Boys over Flowers, Goblin, Descendants of the Sun, Crash Landing on You, Itaewon Class, etc., have caused such an upheaval in India that there have been Hindi dubbings of some of them as well.

After the Oscar-winning movie, Parasite, and the legend that is Train to Busan, people have become more interested in the film industry as well as celebrity news from Korea as well. There are so many brilliant and beautiful movies that Korea has to offer.

There is no doubt that Indians love Indian food because who doesn’t? While that is true, it is also a fact that Korean food is gaining popularity day by day in India. More and more people want to try out new food, especially Korean cuisine. With delicious kimchi as the achaar of Korea, Indians want to try out a variety of other dishes as well including Bulgogi (marinated beef barbecue), Japchae (stir-fried noodles), Ddukbokki (spicy rice cake), Bibimbap (mixed rice), Gimbap (rice and vegetables rolled in seaweed), and others.

People of all ages, from toddlers to senior citizens have all not only accepted but also fallen in love with everything Korean, from the food to the art. The obsession over Korea and all that is related to it is growing at a speed and in unexpected directions. There are K-drama and K-pop fan clubs in towns and cities like Ahmedabad, Pune, Dehradun, Guntur, Nagpur, and Patna — cities where the local languages of the people are more popular than English.

The devotion and appreciation that Indians have for Korean culture have grown dramatically over the pandemic, and it is showing no signs of slowing down. K-pop, K-dramas, Korean films, and even Korean food are all cherished in India.