What began as the spread of South Korean popular culture in parts of East and Southeast Asia in the late 1990s, Hallyu “the Korean wave,” made its landing and mark in a new cultural context in Latin America years later nearing the end of the first decade of the 21stcentury. But how did Hallyu suddenly emerge in this part of the international system? What factors led to its development? The results of our field research findings in Peru and Brazil brings the argument away from the cultural proximity for both states with high levels of Asian migration (i.e. Japanese and Chinese) and provides an interesting insight into discussions on socioeconomic grounds that may have influenced individuals’ interests towards Hallyu.