K-pop: More Than Just Music

I can bet that even once in your life you have heard the word “K-pop.” Am I wrong? K-pop is a musical genre and, at the same time, an abbreviation that means “Korean popular music,” in which different rhythms, dance routines, ranges of colors, and styles are mixed. Although, K-pop has a different meaning for me, that is less technical than the first one. For me, I've been a fangirl since my teens. K-pop is that place full of music, art, love, and fun where I can be myself. So, in this blog entry, I'm going to talk about my experience being a K-pop fan; then, I'll mention what's the meaning of para-social relations between idols and fans; and finally, I'll explain the recent popularity of K-pop and its influence in recent years.

I can remember that my taste for K-pop started in 2018. I liked the rhythm that the songs had, even though I didn't understand what their lyrics meant. The exact moment I became a fan of K-pop full-time was in 2020, most specifically in August, during the pandemic. I had a lot of free time, and my taste in music started to change a lot at that time. Then, suddenly, all my playlists on Spotify had at least one K-pop song in them, and I didn't have any idea why. Since then, my life has been more exciting than before, and it is full of fun and happiness. I love being a K-pop fan and staying up until 3:00 am because my favorite groups release a new album or song, I love singing out loud and dancing to these songs, even though I do it wrong. But above all, I love the new experiences and moments that K-pop has given me. I would never regret making this decision.

The connection that exists between an idol and their fandom, can't be described by words. Even for me, it's hard to write this right now. These relations are difficult to tell for one reason: they are so unique, special, and also reciprocal. They're full of love and thankfulness on both sides. This type of relationship where both, the idol and the fan, know of the other’s existence but don't know each other personally is what we call a para-social relationship. Idols are able to give their fans this feeling of being when no one else does, emotional support, and positive energy just with their music and healing words. Even some idols have also confirmed that they also gain strength to perform on stage and give a good show thanks to their fans because they are the reason they are there. These relationships can be positive for both of them only if they stay health because it's another way to demonstrate love.

South Korea is well-known not only for its beautiful places, delicious food, and modern technology but also for its music. This is mainly due to the fact that entertainment companies knew how to conquer the Western market with innovative advertising campaigns for their artists. Despite the language barrier that exists, many young people, like me, receive the offer of the Korean music industry as something new and different from what we are used to, due to the incredible combination of good music, excellent aesthetics, and elaborate choreographies that always accompany their songs. This is what arouses that spark in K-pop fans.

In summary, we can say that K-pop is a place full of art, music, and happiness where fans can find another way to show love for their favorite groups and feel comfort and positive energy in their songs. They can also have new experiences, meet new people with the same tastes as them, and form friendships. K-pop at this moment is more than music; it is an entire industry that has been growing gradually until reaching the popularity it now has.