A study by a local think-tank shows there are roughly nine-point-three million fans around the world of "hallyu" or, as it is known in English, the "Korean Wave."

In a report on the Korean Wave released Wednesday, the Korea Foundation says six-point-eight million fans are based in Asia, one-point-two million in North America and one-point-one million in Europe.

The number of clubs dedicated to Korean pop culture and Korean stars comes to almost one-thousand, with around half based in Asia.

The foundation says the number of hallyu fans grew by almost two-point-six million and hallyu clubs by some 200 over the past year. It adds most of the clubs are K-pop fan clubs, but a growing number are geared toward Korean dramas and Korean tourism.