Hánliú represents one of the most significant cross-cultural phenomena in modern East Asia. Beginning in the late 1990s with the broadcast of Korean television dramas like “What is Love?” (爱情是什么), Chinese audiences were captivated by the shows' romantic storylines, high production quality, and appealing aesthetics. This was quickly followed by the rise of first-generation K-pop groups like H.O.T., whose music and highly stylized performances created a massive youth following. The closest Western comparison is the “British Invasion” of the 1960s, when bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones completely transformed the American music and fashion scene. Like the British Invasion, Hánliú was not just about music; it was a total cultural package that influenced everything from fashion and makeup (K-beauty) to food trends and even societal beauty standards. For China, it marked a period where a neighboring Asian country, rather than the West, became the primary exporter of “cool” for the younger generation. It stands as a textbook example of a nation successfully using “soft power” (软实力, ruǎn shílì) to build its global brand and influence.
The term 韩流 (Hánliú) is widely used across different registers in China.