Korean pop music (K-Pop) is a craze that has swept the nation, but it can be hard to support your favorite band from the other side of the world. Worldwide tours are few and far apart, and 2021 has put concerts on hold for the rest of the year.
Luckily, there are plenty of great alternative ways to support your favorite K-pop band from the comfort of your own home.
Merchandise
Show off your fandom to the world with merchandise directly from their stores. Sites like Etsy and Redbubble are suitable for cheap handcrafted stickers and jewelry. It's always best to buy straight from the source, though, to ensure your stars get every penny.
Don't let financial fears stop you from cheering on your K-Pop favs. With tax season around the corner, consider some of the best tax lawyers in Toronto to score you a pretty penny on your next tax return.
Buy and Stream Music
The best way to support your oppa or nonna's favorite band is to stream them. Buy their albums directly from their fan sites, but streaming is a great option, so you don't have to worry about shipping.
Though K-Pop is growing in popularity, it can be hard to find reliable places to listen to their music. Your best options will be Youtube Music or Spotify, but even they may not have everything. Consider these great Korean music apps as an alternative streaming source for your favorite bands.
K-Drama and Voice Overs
Networks love a good cameo appearance. Popular bands will often make a mark in animated and live-action movies for fun. Remember the BTS shoutout in The Simpsons or Red Velvet's appearance as the K-Pop trolls in Trolls 2? Keep your eye out for your band's appearance on media, and give them a shoutout if you spy them!
Another great source of cameos is Korean Dramas (K-Drama), which can have multiple episodes centered around your favorite singer. Check out some great K-Dramas on these great streaming apps for some swoon-worthy appearances. Watch responsibly, or you may end up streaming the whole thing in one weekend.
Tik-Tok It
Creative social media platforms like Tik-Tok are an excellent place for fans to get together and celebrate. K-pop can make great short videos on the service. You can practice dancing to your favorite band, recreate a cover of their music, or even duet with costumes inspired by your stars.
Take on challenging choreography in a Tik-Tok dance battle, and see if your followers will step up to the plate. Hashtag your videos properly, and you may even get alike from a K-Pop star themselves.
Join the Fandom
It can be hard not supporting your band through a live concert, but don't let that discourage you from being a part of the K-Pop community. Fandoms like the BTS Army or ReVeluv are always open to new stans and will give you plenty of new ideas on how to support your artists.
Every K-Pop band has its unique fandom, and they flourish in all corners of the internet. Join a fansite and learn the latest on interviews, music updates, cameos, and more. Official fansites may even give you first access to unique merchandise and concert tickets before they are available to the public.
Conclusion
Don't let 2021 stop you from being a stan. Cheer for your favorite Korean stars from the comfort of your home while waiting for their next concert. Join a vibrant community of fans from all corners of the world, and share your K-Pop love with pride.
