Korean Literature Festival 2026 : Is Imphal ready for it ?

Satish Meetei *

Have you heard of Hallyu, Arirang, The Classic, or BTS ?

The younger generation certainly knows BTS. But what we are witnessing today is not a sudden trend - it is the culmination of a cultural process that has, over the last two decades, quietly seeped into the everyday life of Manipur. Hallyu, or the Korean Wave, refers to the growing popularity of Korean dramas, K-pop, and cinema across the world.

In Manipur, its influence cuts across genera- tions and is now increasingly visible in language, fashion, food habits, and even body language. The story of how this wave reached Manipur is both intriguing and local.

In the early 2000s, following the ban on Hindi films, the arrival of satellite cable networks, and the popularity of DVD players, Korean cinema began to find an audience here. Many still remember the days when people flocked to the Moreh Market at Keishampat to buy DVDs of Korean dramas and films.

Bollywood gradually took a back seat, while titles like The Classic, Windstruck, You Are My Sunshine, A Moment to Remember, Love So Divine, and My Sassy Girl became part of teenage conversations.

Cable television played a crucial role in this cultural diffusion. Channels like Arirang introduced viewers not just to Korean entertainment but to Korean culture, traditions, and cuisine. For many young people in Manipur, watching these serials sparked a desire to learn the language, try Korean food, imitate dress style, and even adopt gestures and manners seen on screen.

This fascination was not limited to the youth; older generations, too, found themselves drawn to these narratives and aesthetics.

The Korean Wave gained renewed global momentum with the rise of BTS and the international success of films like Parasite, which won the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film in 2020.

BTS, in particular, captured the imagination of young people in Manipur through lyrics that speak about identity, struggle, and social values. With the spread of Instagram and Twitter, fandoms grew into tightly knit communities, and Manipur was no exception.

More recently, and perhaps more quietly, Korean literature has begun to enter the reading lives of people here. While Japanese literature-through writers like Haruki Murakami - had long been more familiar, the works of Nobel Laureate Han Kang found their way into the hands of Manipuri readers.

Her writing, especially Human Acts, resonates deeply. The novel’s exploration of violence, grief, and human dignity during the 1980 Gwangju Uprising inevitably recalls memories closer to home - the June Uprising of 2001, the Malom massacre, and the persistent sense of insecurity that has shaped life in Manipur.

Han Kang writes with compassion and restraint, insisting on love and empathy even in the face of brutality. In a State that has been living with conflict - most recently since 3 May 2023 - her work feels especially relevant. It reminds us that literature can bear witness, but it can also offer a language for healing.

Hallyu, at its best, opens up possibilities for cultural exchange and dialogue between South Korea and North East India, particularly Manipur. Such ex- changes can help us imagine a world less driven by hatred and division, and more attentive to shared human experiences.

With this spirit, Ukiyo Bookstore, in collaboration with The Ink & Quill Collective, is organising the Korean Literature Festival Imphal on 21 February 2026 at Harvest Café where renowned Korean authors will interact with local Manipuri authors and audience.

In the early 2000s, Korean language, dramas, films, or BTS fandoms were virtually absent in Manipur. Two decades later, the Korean Wave has only grown stronger. Since 2018, Korean artists - especially K-pop performers and DJs - have even visited the State, generating enormous excitement.

BTS continues to energise the world. Han Kang continues to heal readers through her writing. It feels only natural that Imphal joins this journey- with openness, curiosity, and care. The question is no longer whether Imphal is ready. Perhaps it already has been, for a long time.