After the end of the Korean War, in 1953, South Korea began to develop a new national identity. And boy did it succeed. In recent years the world has witnessed its cultural boom, what has been called the Korean Wave (hallyu). “Gangnam Style,” in 2012. The film Parasite, in 2019. The series Squid Game, in 2021. Not to mention K-pop, the popular music genre dominated by bands such as BLACKPINK and BTS. Featuring more than 200 objects, from costumes and props to videos and ceramics, this exhibition celebrates South Korea’s rapid economic and cultural transformation. Though the artists represented in the show are contemporary, many of them also honor their country’s historical roots by incorporating traditional values and symbols into their work. —Jeanne Malle