Crystal S. Anderson, PhD

Elon University

Academic research suggests adults like K-pop for a variety of reasons, the chief of which is music.  These findings complicate assumptions about the identity of international K-pop fans and their preferences.  According to 638 responses among 18- to 30-year-olds from around the world, other top reasons include choreography and idols.

Youth is a major lens through which many view K-pop. Not only do commentators  focus on the age of the performers, they also assume that all fans of K-pop are teenagers.   The Wikipedia entry states that K-pop “has grown into a popular subculture among teenagers and young adults around the world.” Commentators like Kim Ji-myung often begin media stories about K-pop with an observation about the age of its fans:  “I find it surprising and also fun to see so many European and American youngsters dance and sing in unison with Korean tunes (in Korean!)…