Global interest in all things South Korea has surged in recent years, driven by soft power exports like music, film and television. Korean is now one of the most popular languages to learn in the world, and the country hit a new high in international visitors in the last full year before the pandemic.

But those living in South Korea, especially minorities, often experience a country with far less glitz and glamor than in K-dramas. Sometimes the reality is far worse, as seen in a marked increase in Islamophobia in recent years.