Seryun Lee is Lecturer in Korean Studies at the University of Sydney, Australia. Prior to joining Sydney, she held positions at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies and the University of Queensland. She holds a PhD in Translation and Intercultural Studies from the University of Manchester. Her research interests centre on Korean culture and society, Korean language and translation, online communication, and contemporary screen culture. She is the author of Affect Theory and Translation on YouTube (2025), and her work has been published in a number of international peer-reviewed journals, including the International Journal of Cultural Studies, Social Media + Society, M/C Journal, and Continuum: Journal of Media & Cultural Studies.

• Introduction: Koreanness in a World Saturated with K-Words Seryun LeePART I: Emerging Trends 1 The Rise of the Korean Short Story Cycle Yeonjak Soseol as K-Literature Eun Jin Jeong2 From Korean Identity to K-Identity: Interpreting K-ness in Global Hallyu Exhibitions Sumi Kim3 Korean Cultural Identity in Contemporary Performance Veronika Veselková4 Reinterpreting and Representing Korean History and Historical Culture in Television Drama Rebecca LewisPART II: Korean Affects 5 The Rise of Intimacy Experts in Korean Popular Culture and the Commercialization of Discourses of Healing and Happiness: Analyzing the ‘Nation’s Mentor’ Dr. Eun-Young Oh and Related Media Cases Ji-Hyeon Kim and Yun-Hee Cho6 Is K-ness Korean-ness? BTS’ Challenge to Hegemonic Masculinity in Korea Lonnie EdgePART III: Crafting Koreanness: Policies and Cultural Diplomacy 7 Korean Wave and Public Policy: Examining the State’s Role in the Transnational Cultural Phenomenon Youngaah Koh8 Who is Korean?: (Re)imaging Korean Identity by the Overseas Koreans Foundation Mi Hyun YoonPART IV: The Shaping of New Koreanness from Cross-Cultural Perspectives 9 How Korean is Korean Literature in Spain? Longitudinal Research on Availability and Presentation of Korean Literature in Translation Ester Torres-Simón10 Transculturing the Nine-Tailed Fox: How the SCP Wiki Globalizes Korean FolkloreDylan Motin and Yeowon Yoon11 From Consumers to Cultural Ambassadors: Exploring Sydney-Based K-Pop Cover Dancers’ Influence on Local Korean Wave Engagement Kathryn Phillips12 Translingual Trinkets of the Korean Wave: Deconstructing the Transnational Power of the Hybridity in K-Objects Loli KimPART V: The Disruptive Potential of Korean Culture 13 Kim Eui-sung in Hong Kong’s Anti-ELAB Movement: Transnational Celebrity Activism and South Korean Soft Power Elaine Chung14 Transnational K-Pop Fandom and Global CitizenshipJeeheng Lee15 K-Pop Fandom Political Activism: Mobilizing Transnational Fan Communities for Social ChangeHeiwon Won