A study done on high school students in Hong Kong found that 62% of them have K-pop merchandise, like posters, figures, and T-shirts. A survey by students at St. Paul's Secondary School in Hong Kong revealed that out of 228 participants, 62.3% said they own items related to K-pop.
Furthermore, a majority of the survey respondents, specifically 61.4%, indicated a desire to learn the Korean language due to their interest in K-pop, while 57% found Korean fashion to be attractive.
The majority of participants expressed interest in dancing when they hear Korean music compared to English or Chinese music, with 59.6% responding positively. These findings were presented at the 2nd Korea Forum for Hong Kong Young Leaders, which took place at the University of Hong Kong. This forum, organized by the Korean Consulate General in Hong Kong, the Korean Cultural Center, and the Korean Studies Department of the University of Hong Kong, provides an opportunity for local high school students to collaborate in researching various aspects related to Korea.
This year, teams that took part in the event discussed various topics like how K-pop influences the Korean economy and culture spreading, the connection between Korean dramas and tourism in Korea, and the role of Korean education in the country's economic growth.
The group from St. Paul's Secondary School, who focused on the impact of K-pop on the Korean economy and culture spreading, were awarded the top prize for their presentation and survey findings.
In Hong Kong, the Korean Wave, known as Hallyu, is very popular. Korean dramas often rank in the top 10 on local Netflix drama lists, and K-pop performances are highly successful.
Beginning in the year 2025, the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) will offer Korean as an optional foreign language course in response to this developing trend.
