The Korean Wave Hits Canberra: Your Guide to the Hallyu! Opening Weekend

Posted on 26 November, 2025

Whether you’re there for the opening party, the dance workshops, the fried chicken, or all of the above – this is your weekend to dive headfirst into Hallyu! The Korean Wave at the National Museum of Australia.

From Friday 12 to Sunday 14 December, the museum is transforming into Canberra’s epicentre of everything K-culture, with something for everyone – whether you’re a diehard K-pop fan, a K-drama devotee, a curious foodie, or a family looking for a fun weekend adventure.

The Opening Party

The weekend kicks off with a bang – or should we say, with a finger heart – at the opening party on Friday night. For the first time ever, the NMA is opening an exhibition launch to the public, giving everyone the chance to be among the first in Australia to experience this major exhibition from London’s Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A).

Hosted by SBS PopAsia’s Andy Trieu, the night features live performances by Korean Australian artist YURA, high-energy dance sets from DARE (winners of Australia’s 2025 K-Pop Cover Dance Festival), and DJ sets that’ll have you dancing into the night.

There’s a pink carpet entrance – because fashion is a huge part of Hallyu culture – Korean-inspired food, photo booths replicating iconic Seoul experiences, and of course, exclusive first access to the exhibition.

And tickets are available for 16 and 17-year-olds, too!

You can read more about the party here.

Opening Weekend

Friday’s celebration is just the beginning – the opening weekend keeps the party going across Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 December. The museum has curated a program that spans dance, food, learning, and creative activities – all designed to let you experience Hallyu culture in different ways.

For the Foodies

Korean food culture is having a major moment, and the opening weekend celebrates this with Chimaek on the Deck – a combo that includes exhibition entry plus Korean fried chicken, ice-cold beer, and DJ sets by the lake.

For the uninitiated, “chimaek” is a portmanteau of “chi” (chicken) and “maekju” (beer) – a beloved Korean dining experience that’s become a cultural institution. Imagine: crispy Korean fried chicken, cold drinks, music, and those stunning lake views. It’s Seoul vibes meets Canberra scenery.

Tickets are now on sale

For the Dance Lovers

If you’ve ever wanted to move like a K-pop star, opening weekend is your time to shine.  Free drop-in dance workshops run throughout the weekend, featuring performances and lessons from local and interstate K-pop dance talent.

DARE Dance Crew returns – this Melbourne-based all-girls crew has been active since 2017 and won the Australian K-Pop Cover Dance Festival two years running (2024 and 2025). They represented Australia at the world finals in Seoul, and now they’re bringing their expertise to Canberra, teaching in the community through show-stopping choreography. Catch their performance at 10–10.30 am on Saturday and stay for their workshop at 11.30 am–12 noon.

Also performing is Serendipity, a Canberra-based crew focused on excellence and community connection. They’ll be performing at 11 am–11.30 am and leading a workshop from 2–2.30 pm.

For the Culture Curious

If you want to go deeper into understanding Korea’s remarkable cultural journey, the Curators in Conversation event on Saturday 13 December is essential booking.

Join V&A curator of Korean Art and lead curator of Hallyu! The Korean Wave, Dr Rosalie Kim, alongside National Museum curator Kate Morschel, for an illuminating discussion about how Korea became a global cultural influencer.

Through stories and highlights from the exhibition, they’ll explore how a unique blend of creativity, collaboration, and cultural ambition helped shape Korea’s contemporary identity. It’s the behind-the-scenes perspective that brings context to everything you’ll see in the exhibition.

For the Families

The opening weekend is designed to be family-friendly, with free drop-in activities throughout both days. Kids can snap and decorate their pics at photo booths and experience K-pop culture in an accessible, fun way.

The family programming continues throughout the January school holidays with activities exploring how traditional Korean culture informs contemporary expressions. Think miniature hanbok (traditional Korean costume) making workshops that connect to how KPop Demon Hunters’ costumes are designed, showing kids how Korean streetwear draws from historical dress, and Clay-pop sessions inspired by the movie’s loveable characters Derpy and Sussie.

The Exhibition

Of course, at the heart of all this programming is the exhibition itself – Hallyu! The Korean Wave, featuring more than 250 objects from the V&A, including glittering K-pop idol costumes, film props from shows like Squid Game, interactive dance displays, and pieces that trace Korea’s meteoric cultural rise.

From the post-war era to global K-pop domination, the exhibition moves through key milestone moments where music, TV, fashion, and technology converged to create the phenomenon we’re witnessing today.

There’s never been a better time to dive into the Korean Wave.