Representations of Korean Food in Hallyu Media and International Tourists' Food Experiences: A Systematic Review

This systematic review examines the relationship between Korean food representations in Hallyu media and international tourists' food experiences. Analyzing sixteen peer-reviewed articles from 2008-2024, we identify significant connections between mediated food imagery and tourist expectations, behaviors, and satisfaction levels. Korean dramas create sensory connections that influence destination image formation and tourist motivations through vicarious consumption experiences. Korean cuisine in dramas creates anticipatory experiences that tourists seek to validate during their visits. Our findings reveal that alignment between media-formed expectations and actual gastronomic experiences is critical for tourist satisfaction and behavioral intentions. The study shows that Korean food functions not merely as consumption but as cultural engagement, with traditional cooking methods and ingredients highlighted in media representations creating authenticity perceptions. This important research contributes to food tourism literature and provides practical implications for destination marketers, suggesting that balancing culinary authenticity with modern adaptations is essential for leveraging synergy between Hallyu content and Korean cuisine. We recommend strategic approaches for sustainable Korean food tourism development that address potential expectation gaps while preserving cultural significance in increasingly globalized food tourism landscapes. The emotional connections formed through detailed drama representations significantly enhance destination loyalty when authentically fulfilled during actual tourism experiences throughout visitors' journeys