K-pop remains undisputed face of Korea for 9th consecutive year: survey

K-pop has fortified its status as the most influential symbol of Korea for nearly a decade, moving beyond geopolitical risks to stand as the definitive pillar of the country’s global identity, a government-led survey showed, Monday. According to the 2026 Overseas Hallyu Survey, released by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE), K-pop has maintained its position as the first image that comes to mind when overseas people think of Korea for nine consecutive years since 2018. The survey, which polled 27,400 Korean content consumers across 30 countries between November and December last year, found that 17.5 percent of respondents picked K-pop as the top representative image of Korea. This was followed by Korean food at 12.1 percent, dramas at 9.5 percent, beauty products at 6.2 percent and films at 5.9 percent. This ranking remains identical to the previous year, highlighting the consistent dominance of the five leading sectors of K-culture.

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