The World Association for Hallyu Studies (WAHS) is an international academic organization comprising scholars and practitioners engaged in the study and promotion of Hallyu across diverse disciplines.

Recognizing Hallyu’s emergence as both a significant cultural phenomenon and a vital area of scholarly inquiry, WAHS seeks to integrate theoretical perspectives with practical applications to advance comprehensive understanding of Korean popular culture and its global impact.

Following its inaugural general meeting in January 2013, WAHS was officially incorporated with the approval of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in March of the same year. Since 2021, the Association has established 36 overseas branches in 26 countries, thereby cultivating a global network that fosters transnational collaboration, research exchange, and cross-cultural communication through the study of Hallyu.