ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the two most prominent but lesser-studied subjects in Hallyu studies—diaspora and ethnicity. While numerous scholars have recently developed unique arguments about these topics, research remains limited. This chapter explains the increasing role of diasporic Koreans in the earlier stages of the Korean Wave. It addresses the ways in which diasporic Koreans have developed patterns of consumption of Korean popular culture through digital technologies, and whether this shifting consumption habit drives the growth of Hallyu worldwide. Finally, the chapter examines the close relationship between Korean popular culture and diaspora identity embedded in the Korean Wave.
