I was speaking with someone the other day about how her daughter got into K-pop. This is a question I ask a lot of people (and publish in the zine!) because I am always thrilled about how diverse the answers can be. From randomly stumbling into it or being dragged forcibly by someone else, everyone has a different story. This particular woman told me her daughter had been going through a difficult time and was struggling a lot. The woman didn’t know what to do to help her daughter and it was a very difficult time for everyone. However, when the daughter found K-pop (through a friend) she started to become happier. She laughed more, she got excited about things again, and spoke more with her family and friends. She became more like herself again. Finding K-pop had given her something, and she found her way back. It’s possible she didn’t even realize the change herself but her mother, who had been frettingly watching her daughter fade before her eyes, did notice and celebrated.
After telling me this the woman laughed and said she may as well call herself a K-pop fan herself with how much she knew about it now. When prompted she easily rattled off every member of her daughter's favorite group, several songs and aspects of her favorite music videos, and comebacks. She knew an astonishingly large amount about various groups and references to fandom-related jokes. I told her she definitely sounded like a fan herself now and she said something that struck me.
“K-pop is happiness. What’s not to like?”
This conversation stuck with me because it is such a frequently told story; K-pop coming into people's lives when they were struggling. The circumstances vary- depression, loss, stress from work/school, the list goes on. The common thread is that somehow, K-pop helped make whatever was bothering them just a little bit easier. In my 12 years in the fandom, I have heard this kind of story over and over again. I AM one of these stories.
But why? What is it about this particular music genre that people grab onto?
I suppose it could be the bright and energetic music. Or the flashy, cinematic music videos. Maybe it’s just the idols themselves- they’re beautiful, hardworking and talented. That could be enough, but I don’t think so. The bright music, the crazy music videos, and the lovely people are things that initially grab people I think but I don’t think it’s why they stay. I don’t think that’s what people grab onto to pull themselves back into the light of day.
Fan interaction is one of the things that makes K-pop stand out from western music. A lot of what idols do, and what sets them apart from other Korean artists, is centered around fan interaction. Most of the content created by idols is catered towards fans. They themselves are promoted to fans as an ideal, a standard, an inspiration. They do fan meets, fan calls, social media lives, and conversations on apps like Bubble, and keep us updated on their everyday lives. Truly, this makes fans feel like idols are a real part of our lives, and us in theirs. And that is an amazing feeling.
Fandom could also be a factor. Fandoms are named, and given an identity that idols speak to directly. Having your idol say “I love you ___” is like being spoken to directly- if indirectly. Fans are part of a collective, but that collective is loved and appreciated. Being a part of that also gives people a community. K-pop fandoms are safe spaces where people can come together and express all the love they want for someone. Truly, no one understands the love we have for our ult bias or groups as well as a fellow fan. Some people think it's weird to jealously hoard photocards of our favorite idols, but to K-pop fans, it makes perfect sense. Fandoms give people a community of like-minded people to connect too. This is true for all fandoms, not just K-pop. But I do think the collective aspects of K-pop fandoms make them a little different from others. There’s something about being given a name that is similar to being part of a team, a unit, or a collective.
So, what is the answer?
I think it may be some combination of all of these things- that special something that sets K-pop apart from other music genres. There’s something for everyone and space for them to belong in and I think that is what gives people strength. Belonging is a powerful feeling. Connection even more so. The only way to overcome the hard things is to have the strength and motivation to do so, there is no magic cure. But those things are hard to find on our own, and sometimes we need to find them in others first.
Of course, not everyone has a story like this. It is fully possible to just like K-pop without any emotional struggle predating. K-pop is fun and entertaining. And if that’s all there is for you then honestly I am glad. I also hope you know that if ever there comes a time when you are struggling, or hurting, then K-pop will be there for you too. Because despite silly spats, ridiculous fan wars, and the occasional crazy, the K-pop community is in celebration of love and acceptance.
Cheesy, I know. But to be a fan is to express affection for people on the other side of the world we’ve never met. We can extend some of that emotion towards other fans as well. No matter their ult group, or whose bias is whose, fans should support each other. Because we get it, more than anyone we understand each other, and I think that is an amazing part of being a K-pop fan. If, as fans, we can be a part of making someone's life better, why wouldn’t we? Our idols bring us joy and happiness, so why not spread that around?
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