All chapters of this book are very informative and easy to understand, and engage in descriptive and practical-empirical arguments. Therefore, the book will be useful to readers who love Korean popular culture and who would like to learn its history and current status . . . This book will contribute greatly to the growing body of contemporary Korean (cultural) studies.

Korean Studies

The Global Impact of South Korean Popular Culture: Hallyu Unbound helps elaborate the importance of the spread of Korean popular culture beyond simply the Asian continent to South America, Eastern Europe, and elsewhere. Using various academic disciplines, this volume demonstrates how the Korean wave has affected the view of Korea and its culture in diverse areas throughout the world, especially in heretofore unexplored areas like Eastern Europe where little scholarship has focused in the past. This bookis an excellent choice for those who wish to gain a better appreciation of the importance of the Korean wave and how it continues to expand and shape the consumption of Korean culture globally.

Michael Pettid, Binghamton University

This book examines the substantial role Hallyu plays as a source of Korean cultural identity, contributing to the ongoing discussion of the significance of popular culture in cultural branding. Its chapters offer a documented view of the impact of Hallyu in a very wide geographic space and diverse cultural contexts, and suggest new ways for interpreting highly dynamic representations of Korean society and culture shaped by Hallyu around the globe. The variety of vantage points and the interdisciplinary approach make the book a stimulating read for scholars in cultural studies, media, and tourism, as well as for those interested in the commodification of culture. Also, scholars wishing to get a more nuanced understanding of the deliberate construction of cultural identity through the promotion of popular culture will find this book valuable and enlightening.

Codru?a Sîntionean, Babe?-Bolyai University