SEOUL — In the late 1990s, the Korean Wave — "Hallyu" as it's referred to in its native tongue — began as South Korea's television, film and music industries gained greater international followings, especially among its Asian neighbors.
The increased popularity of the country's entertainment not only boosted tourism in Seoul, it generated interest in the city's burgeoning fashion industry too. Fans came to seek out the same styles of clothing that the casts of their favorite TV programs wore.
Nearly a decade after the K-Wave's first ripples, Seoul remains a top vacation destination for Chinese, Taiwanese and especially Japanese travelers.