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K-Pop Fans

An Observation on Body Language and Behavior

by

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Let us imagine this, at dusk, cars busy running to and fro the diversion,

people biking at the cycle lane, you running down the metro, taking time to clear

your mind off a busy day at work. You just intended to go for a run, until you run

over a Korean restaurant. A haven for samgyeopsal as people call it. From the

outside, the glass panel is clear. You could see pairs and groups of people gathered

around grilling tables, with their Korean meats sizzling on it. As you put your

earphones back on, ready to continue with your run, the glass door opened, letting

the aroma of Korean cuisine waft outside, reaching your very own nostrils. And as

though automatic, your stomach let on a small grumble. Then you found yourself

headed inside.

The mood inside is different. You were slightly taken a back about how

everyone seems to be making one with the atmosphere. Korean pop music on

stereo; it is Blackpink’s latest release, ‘Kill this Love’ you noticed. Everyone seems

to be banging their heads slightly at every beat. It was not a surprise since you well

know the song has a catchy melody hard enough to get off one’s head. As you
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were humming along to the song, you found a table to settle yourself with. But

several minutes past, your order was still not served. You thought something might

have happened inside the kitchen that is beyond observation, but you didn’t mind.

You were too engrossed with what you were seeing than to bother. Most of those

who are there, approximately 90 percent, are people of younger years than you.

And upon giving it a deeper look, you noticed something more. That these

youngsters are not just there for food. They are coming from something else.

Perhaps, they are these, what they call nowadays as ‘stans’. They are coming for

something else. Perhaps, to submerge themselves in the culture of their idols.

Alas, your food was served. But you were no longer interested with it as you

have already put out a note pad and a pen. You have decided that to use this time to

document and observe how these Hallyu fandoms (KPop fans) behave themselves,

would be best.

KPop continues to grow exponentially each year. In light of the recent

events concerning some KPop groups being acknowledged in the international

music arena, it is not even surprising that its fanbase grows with it. In fact, not

even more surprising that we are hearing more and more instances where fans were

unable to control themselves and behave in manners we deem appropriate. For

instance, having Blackpink, the most famous KPop girl group of this generation,

being welcomed with chaos at the Philippine airport because fans just cannot get
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hold of their excitement to see the undeniably amazing members. But while this is

also saddening, it is the price that we must pay for the growth of this amazing

music culture.

The KPop phenomenon has been much more fan-driven than say,

Hollywood or American pop music. KPop fanbase is considered a major

component behind the success of Korean idol groups both domestically and

internationally. Fandoms can be high-energy, high on passion and all-consuming.

Fans rally in their millions to follow the trajectory of their favourite stars. In fact,

KPop agencies believe that a strong fan base is the way to a solid bottom line.

Going back to the restaurant, you realized the reality of Korean culture in the

Philippines. That everything is coming up Korean in this country. The Hallyuwave

has developed into a strong subculture among young people. Now, it is not just

teenagers singing to Korean pop music, wearing a merch from their favourite band,

waving the light sticks to beat. Korean influence is currently so huge even

businesses have also been booming for Korean products. There are Samsung

phones with its base office in Korea, now taking a toll on smartphones that sell the

highest price when compared to the famous Apple products. Not to mention that

Blackpink is currently its official group ambassador, with this group of the biggest

fandom. In fact, instances provide that Blinks (Blackpink’s fandom) are going

crazy over buying Samsung phones just so they could be noticed by their biases.
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Not only that, Korean cosmetic products are also booming on their own rights.

Fandoms are also head over heels in getting that perfect clear skin comparable that

to their idols. Also, the influx of young Koreans to the country to learn English has

ensured that many malls now have instructions translated in Hangul to go with

Chinese. Most of all, Filipinos are also starting to appreciate Korean cuisine, with

Korean restaurants popping up in the metro. Korean culture definitely does not

begin and end with Hallyu, but Hallyu inspires the greatest devotion. Who are

these fans and why are they drawn to Hallyu?

After such realization, you let your eyes wander again to see more of these

fans and stans. At the corner, you saw a group of five girls, talking over their

samgyeopsal. Each of them is brightly dressed wearing the official merch of the

idols they love. You were trying to make sense of what they are mouthing. Then

you realize you couldn’t, as they actually communicate in a strange language that

probably wouldn’t make sense to most Koreans or Filipinos: “My ovaries have

exploded! My wigs snatched! Jennie unnie is a bias wrecker! I stan legends!”

These fandoms have a sociolect of their own. True, if there is one thing most

noticeable to KPop fans, it is their language. They talk in a manner exclusive to

them. If one joins a conversation without knowledge of KPop, one would be left

out, and eventually, might either withdraw herself from the conversation or would
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make most efforts to ‘fit in’. Looking back at the five girls, you saw two of them

squealing loudly. Their boundless energy suggests they are in their teens. They

hold up the latest album of their favorite KPop group while simultaneously giving

praises to it. Then one of the girls opened her phone. You noticed from the album

that it was BTS. Perhaps, they are watching to the boy band’s latest release, ‘Boy

with luv’. As they are speaking back and forth in Korean and their native language,

you couldn’t make out most of the conversation. But you were able to catch one

phrase, “Jungkook Oppa! Cincha daebak!,” to which in your curiosity you hit the

phone for its meaning, “Jungkook, you are really amazing!” However, not that

these fandoms only tries to speak in basic Korean but their body language suggests

to them being stans as well. Most often, when the girls take pictures of themselves

they do the Korean heart hand signature, the peace sign close to face, and weirdly

enough, making cute faces. And you noted, most often.

“Fandom is a fuel of trade,” said Catherine Deen, one of the three scholars

who spoke about the hallyu phenomenon in the forum “The Hallyu Mosaic in the

Philippines: Framing Perception and Praxis” as the Ateneo Initiative for Korean

Studies) Conference on Korean Studies. In their studies, Deen and fellow speakers

Patrick Capili and Gilbert Que surveyed hundred of fans and major KPop fan clubs

in the Philippines, categorizing the fans based on their activities and level of

affinity with their idols (www.gmanetwork.com).

Finding a haven in the fandom

In the academics’ survey, most of the respondents confessed that they don’t

“fit in”, but found a refuge in KPop. Being in a fandom is a personal experience,

and a fan’s affinity with her idol is an avenue for her to explore her creative side,

according to Capili’s presentation.

To go back to the five girls in the restaurant, you saw the girl next to the two

one with copies of the BTS album. She does not join the conversation much, but

her hands are very busy sketching her KPop crush on her drawing pad. Even

though she stays largely quiet, her drawings have turned her into a viral celebrity

on social media websites and groups.

KPop fan fiction and fan art are on the rise in communities, social networks

and sites such as Wattpad, Livejournal, and DeviantArt. One of the best local

examples of these is J.P. Adrian Dela Cruz’ novel: “The KPop Star and I.” It has

been published and is now available in major bookstores.

On a deeper level, some fans can identify with their idol, whether it be his or

her image, character or struggles in life. Korean idols push this kinship further by

fan services, such as talking selfies using a fan’s camera or even going to the

lengths of calling a fan’s mother at a concert.

Get-togethers

Next to the girl sketching is a girl constantly texting and shuffling

photocopies cut in half. The girl says to the group, “Our fan club is organizing a

fanchant event next week and we’re trying to invite as many as possible because

BTS will be having a concert next month. They’ll be here for just one night, we

better let our oppas know how much Filipino fans love them!”

Fan clubs often organize events or projects dedicated to their idols. These

can be fanchants (cheers made during concerts) or just a simple gathering with

other fans. Fandom can create a bond among young people who see themselves as

“outsiders” in everyday life, but who now have found other who share the same

interest. Thus is formed “social capital,” in which they create their own network

with people who have the same affinity for Korean celebrities, whether just within

their own group, or among people watching a concert together.

Growing up and moving on

In our image of Kop fangirls, there is another girl who keeps on shaking her

head as a sign of disagreement with the two youngest ones on the left. She has seen

it all and has become cynical. Among the group, that girl who sketches is the only
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one to agree with her points – because unlike the two younger ones, who absorb

new artist like a sponge, she is focused on one artist.

But the girl who has been shaking her head has stopped being a “stan” a

long time ago. She still appreciates KPop, but no longer to the degree of the other

girls. The girl in the orange has traded the ‘RM oppa” who has enthralled her

whole teenage and young adult life for another idol, like Peter Parker, the

spiderman.

This brings us to Gilbert Que’s presentation, which was about “stagnant and

retired” fans. People grow up, their tastes change, and they move on—even fans

who have dedicated their entire youth enamored of everything Hallyu and have

spent a small fortune on it. Later in life, some of these fans become “stagnant,”

which means they narrow their attention to only on one artist, don’t buy as many

product endorsed by Korean celebrities as they sued to, and participate in fewer fan

activities.

“Retired” fans, however give up being Hallyu fans altogether. Some of them

even shift back to Western media, and sometimes this results in apathetic

behaviour towards younger fans or younger artists. This does not mean that all of

them reject the idea of Hallyuwave; they are simply fans who outgrew their
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fandom and have moved on to others fandoms or to more mature things such as

careers or married life.

Fandom can be just a phase in many young people’s lives, but what they

learn from it or what they become interested in because of it can last a lifetime.

You noticed that the other girl was done sketching, but she opened yet another note

pad and a book. Ah, you realized, this girl is learning how to read and write in

Hangul, as most fans are. The girl who was shaking her head is now talking, and

though she was over being a hard core stan, she has still the Korean influence in

her. She has said to the group that she would be leaving for Korea in the next two

months. Said, she has applied herself for fellowships and scholarships offered by

Korean institutions. And unknowingly to that, these fans became the unofficial

ambassadors of Korea. While it is nothing bad, the huge numbers of fandom in the

country depicts that the Philippines is still hungry for identity. Foreign trends keep

coming to our shore and we welcome them, but in order to make our own impact,

we must find our edge, sharpen it and let it grow. As said by Perez (2014), the

Philippines has a wealth of skill and talent; if we learn how to utilize these, maybe

someday we will not only be fans, but the subject of adoration ourselves.
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