From blockbuster K-dramas and viral animation to the chart‑crushing force of K‑pop, South Korea’s cultural exports continue reshaping global pop culture. This worldwide phenomenon—widely known as the Korean Wave or Hallyu—shows no sign of slowing down. This year alone, Squid Game Season 3 shattered Netflix records as the most-watched non-English series debut, amassing over 106 million views across 93 countries within its first ten days. The animated musical KPop Demon Hunters made waves with its bold visuals and a fictional K-pop soundtrack that quickly topped global music charts —including reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200. Meanwhile, BLACKPINK keeps breaking records with sold-out world tours and chart-topping hits, while BTS continues to make international headlines with their highly anticipated comeback.
Riding this rising tide of cultural influence, Durban became the latest city to embrace the Korean Wave, hosting its first-ever large-scale Korean cultural festival this past weekend.
Held at the bustling Suncoast Casino Mall along Durban’s iconic beachfront, the one-day pop-up event transformed the Barnyard Theatre into a vibrant hub of Korean music, food, art, and immersive cultural experiences.
Part of the Travelling Korea initiative, the festival responded to growing local enthusiasm for Korean culture — a trend that continues to gain momentum across South Africa. Within just three days of opening, the event’s online registration had to be closed due to overwhelming demand. On the day, more than 1,000 attendees poured into the venue, from families with young children to die-hard K-pop fans eager for a taste of something new.
Visitors immersed themselves in a wide range of cultural activities, including trying on traditional Korean attire (hanbok), practicing Korean calligraphy, making bracelets using the Korean alphabet, and decorating fans and masks. Exhibition spaces offered interactive insights into Korea’s history, cuisine, and pop culture. Meanwhile, the performance stage kept the energy high with live K-pop dance showcases and a crowd-pleasing “Random Play Dance” session that had the audience cheering and dancing along.
One of the busiest corners of the festival was, unsurprisingly, the Korean food booth, where attendees sampled their K-food favourites. Long queues snaked through the venue as locals waited for their chance to experience the flavours of Seoul.
Though Travelling Korea has previously brought similar pop-up events to Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Eswatini, this was its debut in Durban — a city long known for its diverse and vibrant youth culture.
“This is the first time we’ve been able to bring the full Korean cultural experience to Durban, and the response has been incredible,” said Jiyeol YOU, Director of the Korean Cultural Centre in South Africa. “Durban has been one of the most requested locations since we began this project, and it was deeply meaningful to finally meet the community here in person. We’re committed to expanding these events throughout South Africa and beyond.”
Next stop: Botswana. The Travelling Korea initiative will continue its regional journey in August with an upcoming event in Gaborone, followed by return visits to key South African cities including Johannesburg and Cape Town — a sign that the Korean Wave isn’t just growing, it’s here to stay.
Korean Cultural Centre in South Africa (KCCSA) | 주남아공한국문화원
• Website: https://sa.korean-culture.org/en
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