By Jung Joori and Lee Hana

The number of Hallyu fans worldwide has surpassed 100 million.

A report released on Jan. 14 by the government-run Korea Foundation said that as of September last year, the number rose to 104,777,808.

The latest figure is 5.45 million higher than 99,328,297 in 2019 and the highest since 2012. The number of Hallyu fan clubs abroad also rose to 1,835, up 36 from 1,799 over the same period.

The figures were based on online membership data from Hallyu fan clubs collected by 98 diplomatic missions abroad. 

The number of Hallyu fans rose in all regions except Asia. North America saw growth of 30% from 12.15 million to 15.8 million and Europe 25% from 15.04 million to 18.79 million thanks to a surge of interest in Russia. 

In Africa and the Middle East, K-pop and K-dramas fueled an incredible threefold rise in Hallyu fans from 320,000 to 1.19 million.

Asia, however, saw a decrease in the number of fans from 71.8 million to 69 million. On this decline, the report said, "A new strategic approach for Asia is needed to retain the position Hallyu has built in the region."

"Hallyu's soft power was especially evident in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, showing its true value in a hyperconnected society," the foundation added. "High-quality Hallyu content has thrived on global platforms, and global interest in Korean content is seeing a virtuous circle." 

etoilejr@korea.kr