Author: CeeFu

Most global fans experience K-pop via the Internet. At the same time, a lot of K-pop occurs on the Internet: Instagram accounts, tweets, blogs, YouTube. Social media is the primary way that K-pop spread across the globe. Most global K-pop fans will not have a "Kpop experience" but this does not diminish their participation in K-pop, nor should it render their observations and opinions about K-pop as invalid. 

Appearances by K-pop groups like Crayon Pop on American television provide opportunities for exposure to mainstream audiences. At the same time, Crayon Pop is only one kind of K-pop, and as the story links the group’s work to the wacky antics of Psy, I wonder if this is the only kind of K-pop that mainstream audiences will accept (or the only kind of K-pop that they will be exposed to). Again, these are images of Asian women that do not challenge the way Americans think of Asian women. 

This comment reflects how sometimes Western, and particularly American, commentators on K-pop forget about our relationship to Korea (i.e. looking at a culture from the outside) and reveal an unfamiliarity with Korean history. The rapid modernization experienced by Korea in the wake of military dictatorships and a war that ravaged the country does not preclude issues with economic disparity. African Americans do not have the corner on "ghettos" or "hoods." 

Fandoms, like YGLadies, who support 2NE1, often engage in projects. This project supports 2NE1’s comeback related to "love."

Fandoms are very important to the work of preserving information about K-pop. Part of that preservation work, espeically for global fans, are photos of fan artifacts.

Fan meets are a staple in K-pop fandom, and the expansion of the fan meet to non-Asian countries represents how Korean K-pop fan activity is spreading along with K-pop.

Celebrations of anniversaries are important in K-pop fandom. This project by HighSkool, fans of Epik High, show that are activities that K-pop fandoms share regardless of genre.

Categorization is something that can be really useful in navigating the K-pop world, but sometimes it can be too restrictive. Given the group’s history, style of music, and mode of promotion, it is difficult to say that 2AM is not a K-pop group. However, the comment reflects a desire to distance 2AM from groups at the forefront of K-pop, namely, idol groups.  However, K-pop is a style of music with many genres and different kinds of groups.  

Commentators have been announcing the end of K-pop for years now. Such pronouncements do not take into consideration the trajectory of K-pop. K-pop’s international appeal did not begin with Psy; Psy represents yet another aspect of K-pop’s global spread. 

Unless a K-pop group has officially disbanded, it is always poised for a comeback. Koyote last released material in 2011, but now they are staging a comeback.

K-pop fans love to know where their artists are, and thanks to other K-pop fans, they get updated with reports of sightings at airports. 

K-pop fans love a project! These A+, fans of MBLAQ, are plannign a three part project that invovles charity, a gift and a photo album.

Another common fan activity is trending for significant events. In preparation of SS501 leader Kim Hyun Joong’s release, Triple S/Green Peas, fans of SS501, as well as Henecias, fans of Kim Hyun Joong, will trend a hashtag.

Sightings of Epik High fans on the Internet are scarce, so it is significant that they have established a Facebook page.