The love affair between India and Korea is no longer just about trade or tech. It’s about music, drama, beauty, fashion, and food. In the last few years, the Hallyu wave—or the Korean wave—has taken India by storm. From teenagers dancing to BTS and BLACKPINK to aunties following Korean skincare routines, the Korean cultural influence in India is everywhere!
But why are Indians so obsessed with Korea?
Let’s dive deep into this cultural connection and understand the reasons behind the growing Hallyu wave in India.
1. The Power of K-pop: Music Beyond Borders
It all began with music. K-pop, or Korean pop music, is catchy, colorful, and full of energy. Groups like BTS, BLACKPINK, EXO, and TWICE have millions of Indian fans. Their songs may be in Korean, but the emotions and energy break language barriers.
Indian fans not only listen to K-pop but also learn the dance routines, join fan clubs, celebrate idols' birthdays, and even learn the Korean language just to understand the lyrics better!
The rise of BTS especially brought a huge wave of fans called ARMYs in India. Social media plays a big role—Indian fans organize trends, stream songs on YouTube and Spotify, and even send gifts to idols!
2. K-Dramas: The New Daily Soaps
Indian audiences have grown up watching TV serials full of drama, emotions, and family stories. So when Korean dramas entered the scene, it wasn’t too different—but definitely more refreshing!
Shows like Crash Landing on You, Descendants of the Sun, Business Proposal, and Extraordinary Attorney Woo became household names. With short seasons, beautiful actors, emotional storylines, and no over-the-top scenes, K-dramas became the new addiction.
Thanks to platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, MX Player, and Viki, access to subtitled K-dramas became super easy. And guess what? Some dramas are even dubbed in Hindi now!
3. K-Beauty: Skincare Goals for Indian Skin
Let’s admit it—Indians have always been interested in skincare and natural beauty hacks. So when Korean beauty products came with ingredients like green tea, snail mucin, ginseng, and rice water, they instantly grabbed attention.
From 10-step Korean skincare routines to sheet masks and serums, Indian youngsters and beauty bloggers are loving K-beauty trends. Korean brands like Innisfree, Lineage, Etude House, and Cosrx are now easily available online and even in malls.
And guess what? They work well on Indian skin too!
4. Foodie Love: From Kimchi to Korean BBQ
Indian food is known for its spice, variety, and bold flavors. Surprisingly, Korean food is also spicy, flavorful, and full of rice-based dishes—something Indians can relate to.
Dishes like ramyeon (Korean instant noodles), tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), kimchi (fermented cabbage), and Korean fried chicken are now favorites among Indian youth.
Many Indian cafes and restaurants now offer Korean food. And thanks to YouTube, people are also trying to make these dishes at home. Korean mukbang (eating shows) have inspired many foodies to try big bowls of noodles and spicy meals.
5. Learning Korean Language: Not Just "Annyeonghaseyo"
With the growing interest in K-pop and K-dramas, many Indians are now learning the Korean language (한국어). Institutes across India, like the Korean Culture Centre in Delhi, and many online platforms, offer Korean language classes.
But way before Korean became a trend in India, LearnKorean.in (LKI) was already helping curious learners get started. It has been one of the first Indian platforms dedicated to offering structured Korean classes and reliable cultural information, long before the Hallyu wave exploded in popularity. LKI made Korean learning accessible through beginner-friendly lessons, grammar breakdowns in Hinglish, and free cultural resources that truly connected with Indian students.
Today, in addition to LKI, apps like Duolingo, Talk To Me In Korean, and YouTube tutorials have made learning Korean even easier and more fun.
For Indian learners, the Korean alphabet (Hangul) is actually quite simple to learn compared to Chinese or Japanese scripts. Plus, Korean grammar patterns often feel familiar to Hindi speakers, making the journey less intimidating and more relatable.
6. Fashion & Culture: Aesthetic and Aspirational
Korean fashion is trendy, modest, and fits Indian preferences quite well. Oversized T-shirts, cute skirts, bucket hats, and pastel colors are becoming popular in Indian youth fashion.
Indian teens now follow Korean influencers, shop for K-fashion on websites like YesStyle, and create K-pop-inspired reels on Instagram.
Even Korean festivals like Chuseok or Seollal are celebrated online by Indian fans. Many students now want to study in Korea, and some even dream of working in K-entertainment or tourism.
7. A Global Connection: Escaping Reality, Finding Hope
At its heart, the Hallyu wave brings hope, healing, and joy—especially for Indian youth who face stress, pressure, and uncertainty.
K-pop idols openly talk about mental health, self-love, and staying strong, which is inspiring for fans. K-dramas often focus on simple happiness, relationships, and second chances.
In a fast-paced, competitive Indian society, Korean content gives young people something comforting to hold on to.
Conclusion: India + Korea = Saranghae!
So, why are Indians obsessed with Korea? Because Korea gives us everything—music that heals, dramas that touch the heart, beauty that works, and food that excites the soul.
Whether it’s dancing to BTS’s “Dynamite”, crying over a K-drama ending, or cooking ramyeon on a rainy evening, Indians have embraced Korean culture with open arms.
The Hallyu wave in India is not just a trend. It’s a cultural bridge that’s only growing stronger every day.
And who knows? One day, your neighborhood aunty might say “Annyeong!” instead of “Namaste!
