The recent surge in the global popularity of South Korean culture is often referred to as the K-wave, Korean Wave, or Hallyu. It has been almost three years since Parasite, directed by Bong Joon-ho, won the Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay—a historic moment that marked the first time a South Korean film had been nominated in these categories, as well as the first non-English-language film ever to win Best Picture. Since then, I have watched many more films from South Korea—a country I have yet to visit—and have found myself gradually swept up in the Korean Wave. Today, I’d like to reflect on some…