My First Experience with Korean Culture Through K-Pop and K-Drama

annyeonghaseyo, hangug gajog yeoleobun. il-yoil jal bonaeseyo. oneul haluga sunjolobge jinagago issneun geos gat-ayo.

Im trying to learn korean language small small ooo😀
My journey into Korean culture did not start with food or traveling, but with music and movies. The very first time I heard a K-pop song, I didn’t even know it was K-pop. It was just playing in the background on a TikTok video, but the rhythm was so catchy that I replayed the video again and again. Later, I found out the song was from BTS. That day I fell into the world of K-pop without even planning it.

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From there, my playlist started changing. Before, I mostly listened to African and American music, but now I find myself dancing to songs I don’t even understand the language of. I started learning the names of the groups,BTS, Blackpink, EXO, Stray Kids and following their music videos. The energy, the colorful outfits, the way they dance in perfect sync… it’s something I don’t see every day.

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K-dramas also played a big role in making me love Korean culture more. My first drama was Descendants of the Sun. I thought it would just be like any other movie, but I was wrong. The emotions, the storyline, the way they express feelings it felt different, deeper. From there I moved to Crash Landing on You, Vincenzo, Itaewon Class, and many others. Sometimes I stay up late, telling myself, “Just one more episode,” but then I end up finishing the whole series.

Even though I have not yet worn Hanbok, I have seen it many times in dramas. The bright colors, the beautiful designs, the way it makes the characters look royal it makes me wish I could wear one someday, maybe during a real Korean festival or even just for pictures. I imagine myself standing in a palace like in the historical dramas, smiling in my own Hanbok.

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When it comes to Korean food, I haven’t tasted it yet, but I am curious. The way they eat in dramas makes everything look delicious, from ramen to bibimbap to kimchi. Sometimes I pause the drama just to look at the food properly. One day, I plan to visit a Korean restaurant in my city. Not just to eat, but to experience the atmosphere maybe they will play K-pop in the background, maybe the staff will greet me in Korean. I want to feel what I have been seeing on screen for years.

K-pop and K-dramas have opened a door for me into another world. A world where music is full of life and drama stories are told in a way that stays in your heart. I may not have been to Korea yet, but through the songs and series, I feel connected already. And maybe one day, I will turn these little dreams wearing a Hanbok, tasting Korean food, and maybe attending a K-pop concert into reality.