What's the real-life inside K-pop fandoms? Well, K-pop enthusiasts could say it's more like a family, sharing the same feelings and love for their favorite K-pop groups and idols, and who can also be their shoulders to lean on. However, just like a family, brothers and sisters do have different personalities, especially when it comes to international and Korean fans.
As K-pop and Hallyu continue to expand around the world, thanks to the contributions of top K-pop groups, EXO, BTS, BLACKPINK, TWICE, etc., K-pop fandoms are growing more significant and more stable as well, garnering more fans from different countries.
Though they hold the same love and support for specific groups and K-pop idols, their upbringing, different cultures, and beliefs are some of the factors on how they get affected by certain events involving their favorite stars.
According to the recent article by Korea JoongAng Daily, international fans and Korean fans specifically have divided opinions and reactions when it comes to receiving K-pop idols' marriage and dating news.
In 2019, TWICE's Jihyo and Kang Daniel confirmed their romantic relationship after being revealed by Dispatch. However, the male idol immediately released his apology letter to his fans due to the sudden announcement.
This is because the idol received backlash from both fandoms, receiving hate comments and criticism on social media platforms. During that time, Kang Daniel just debuted as a solo artist after Wanna One's disbandment. His first mini-album sold out almost 500,000 copies, a huge milestone for a rookie soloist but resulting ruckus from the fans who brought his album as well.
On Korean platforms, Korean fans expressed their annoyance to the male idol, who, according to them, was a traitor. Korean netizens say that Kang Daniel betrayed them for dating, saying that he's insincere, when he said he loves his fans when he's dating someone. "We shouldn't have bought your albums if we knew you are dating," said Knetz.
Meanwhile, looking at the international fandoms' side, foreign fans were surprised by the sudden announcement. But overall, they are happy that the two idols found love in the industry, and they will support them as long as they are happy-which is a different story compared to Koreans.
But of course, there are also Koreans who supported the couple and international fans who hated the idea of them dating, but the majority of the Koreans were detractors, while international fans were supportive all the way.
Super Junior's Heechul and TWICE's Momo experienced the same scenario when they revealed their dating status, wherein Heechul received negative feedback for dating Momo despite the age difference. Some fans are supporting Heechul, especially international fans, but after him receiving malicious comments, the idol resorted to take legal action against those who continuously sent hate comments to him and the people around him.
Another example is when EXO's Chen revealed in January through a lengthy self-penned letter that he's going to get married to his then-pregnant fianceé, whom he said he wants to spend the rest of his life with, which caused a huge controversy.
This put an extreme division between international and Korean EXO-Ls. In fact, a group of antis hiding behind the name "EXO-L ACE CAFE" spearheaded acts that demand the singer to withdraw from the group, saying that they felt cheated. They started protesting outside SM's building, tearing Chen's merchandise and albums, sending protest trucks containing the demand to kick out Chen from EXO, and even negotiated with a bus containing their plea to roam around Chen's hometown.
As a counterattack, EXO-Ls, who continue to support the new life journey of the idol, created a group called "EXO Protection Squad," which promotes OT9 EXO and aims to abolish the antis' acts.
According to Professor Shin Hyun Joon, from SungKongHoe University, cultural difference always exists, but due to the skyrocketing popularity of K-pop through the globe, conflicts between fandoms are also growing.
Not only international differs when it comes to reacting to dating and marriage, but as well as idols involving in controversies. While K-pop idols involved in drugs, DUI resulting to accidents, and cultural appropriation were immediately called out and canceled by Koreans due to their sensitive culture, international fans think of these as minor cases anyone could do as a "mistake," that's why they should be given another chance.
Though Southeast Asian fans usually shared the same culture and beliefs with Korean, the rising numbers of fans from Western countries are also the reason of difference and conflicts in the fandom, who have a completely different culture.
However, according to Professor Lee Gyu, "The fact that we see more of such disparities is because K-pop is expanding and getting bigger, and everyone joins in with different expectations. These fragments are arising with the growth of K-pop, and it's likely that when K-pop settles down in the international music market, it will become more universal, and fans will change their expectations accordingly."
