Being a K-pop fan can also be difficult when you become too obsessed and start feeling like your world revolves around your favorite group. Before the pandemic, and especially during the difficult years of lockdown, K-pop became a source of entertainment and comfort for many fans who spent more time at home.
As fans, we share a common interest even though we may support different groups and artists. With that shared experience, here are 7 things that every K-pop fan has probably experienced.
- Difficult to determine bias
- Learning everyone’s name
- Spending money on your favorite group
- Getting excited over a comeback
- Finding other people who love K-pop too
- Jokingly introduce them as your lover
- Having a stan account
1. Having a Hard Time Choosing a Bias
Choosing one favorite member can be surprisingly difficult when every member has something that makes them stand out. You might start with one bias, but then another member catches your attention, and suddenly you are questioning your decision.
Especially when one K-pop group has more than 10 members, sometimes it is difficult to stick with just one bias. There are times when your bias still looks attractive in their new release album, but then another member suddenly catches your attention and becomes your bias wrecker.
I have definitely been through this. I stan multiple K-pop groups, such as NCT, SEVENTEEN, TWICE, BTS, and honestly, too many to mention. With so many groups and members to choose from, choosing just one bias can be harder than it sounds.
2. Learning Everyone’s Names
At first, remembering all the members can feel impossible, especially when you are new to a group. There are even times when some members look alike, making it difficult to tell them apart, and sometimes, even after stanning the group for a long time, you can still get confused.
You also have to learn their fan chants, especially if you plan to attend their concerts. Eventually, though, you start recognizing their faces, voices, and personalities without even trying.
3. Spending Money on Your Favorite Group
Being a fan can become expensive once you start buying albums, photocards, merchandise, or concert tickets. You might tell yourself that you are going to save money, but then your favorite group announces something new.
I remember when I was in high school, I was so obsessed with BTS Suga that I would save my lunch money just to have enough money to spend poster from across our school. There were even days when I would skip buying food during lunch just so I could save a little extra
4. Getting Excited Over a Comeback
There is something exciting about waiting for a new comeback, especially when teasers and concept photos start dropping. You suddenly find yourself checking social media just to see if there is another update.
Whenever your favorite group releases new music, you suddenly become a full-time streamer. You might even use multiple devices to stream the song or ask your friends, relatives, or siblings to watch the music video with you.
5. Finding Other People Who Love K-pop Too
Finding someone who enjoys the same group or songs can instantly give you something to talk about. Sometimes, a simple conversation about your favorite idol can turn into a new friendship.
6. Jokingly Introducing an Idol as Your Lover
K-pop fans sometimes jokingly introduce their favorite idol as their boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, or wife, even though everyone knows it is just a fan joke. It becomes even funnier when your friends remember it and start teasing you about your “relationship” with that idol years later.
Sometimes, you might post an old edit or share a photo of your favorite idol and caption it as if they are your lover. The people around you may join the joke, but things can get funny when another K-pop fan claims the same idol as their “lover.”
Jokingly introducing an idol as your lover can be funny, but it can also become unhealthy when the joke turns into an obsession or crosses the idol’s personal boundaries. It can also cause playful competition between friends when two fans claim the same “lover,” so at the end of the day, it is important to remember that your idol probably has no idea about your imaginary relationship.
7. Having a Stan Account
At some point, simply being a fan is not enough, so you create a separate account dedicated to your favorite group or idol. You use it to post photos, edits, updates, memes, and random thoughts that your personal account might not understand.
Being a K-pop fan can come with a lot of funny, exciting, and sometimes questionable moments. From struggling to choose a bias and learning every member’s name to spending money, celebrating comebacks, and joking about having an idol as your lover, these experiences can become part of the fun.
Of course, being a fan is also about knowing when to enjoy the hobby while respecting the artists as real people. At the end of the day, K-pop is something that can bring people together, create friendships, and give us something to enjoy, so let’s keep the fandom fun, healthy, and respectful.
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