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It has been suggested that this article be merged with K-Pop. (Discuss) Proposed since March 2015.

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Korean Pop Music, also known as K-pop, has emerged as a strong global phenomenon. People who listen to Korean music are called K-pop fans or more usual K-poppers. Fans come from all over the world and not just Korea. They typically have terrible tastes in music, hence why they love K-pop. If the music genres screamo and opera had a musical baby, K-pop would be the result.

Sasaeng Fans

Stalker-like-fans, which are also known as abnormal supporters, are being called “Fans” as they have done something too exaggerated or even illegal to their idols. They are mostly female or high-school students. Managers of the Korean stars have spoken to Korean media, revealing that the popular stars own between 500 to 1000 sasaeng fans. The most common activities sasaeng fans engage in include following their idols’ cars everywhere, taking various secret pictures, and disturbing their private lives by sneaking into their living areas. Even the idols themselves have told the press that sasaeng fans have made them feel as though they were living in a jail as they were being watched and followed all the time. Block B, a Korean boyband, has asked sasaeng fans to stop visiting their dorm. One of the extreme case of showing appreciation and love to their idols is by writing letters using the menstrual blood and attaching pubic hair.

Airplane-followers

The most exaggerated thing that sasaeng fans have done is that they would buy plane tickets and follow their idols to their destination according to their schedules even they live far away. Sasaeng fans do not simply follow their idols to the airport, instead, they take the same plane with them in order to take photos and ‘protect’ their precious idols. More seriously, sasaeng fans would occupy the whole Incheon Airport whenever their idols have to travel overseas for work, blocking the roads and facilities for the locals and traveler inside the airport.

Dedication

K-pop fans are not only attracted to an idol's music, but an idol's appearance and personality as well. Idols are ranked at the fans’ top list. They put the K-pop stars in the first priority as they believe that they are their motivations. Fans have mentioned that their idols can provide emotional support, believing their idols can help them at their back and every move they make, they will follow like those are the guides as “they are likely to listen to the comments and influence of a celebrity than their parents” (Theodosiou, 2012)

Without a doubt, management companies also create images in an attempt to gain and retain fans. Many fans believe that their idols are perfect and they would follow their trends or whatever they do in order to show their support. The fans believe their strengths come from their respective idols, and they would like to show love and appreciation to them by using different ways, such as attending concerts or fan meetings. However, there are some fans who attempt to follow these idols everywhere. Consequently, management teams of these celebrities hire security guards to accompany them when they have public events. There have been a few cases of security guards using force against K-pop fans as a result of their harmful actions in attempting to get closer to the idols.

There is another reason why teens worship their idols. Self recognition is an issue which all teens would face. To overcome the problem, they will fill their emotional vacuum through worshiping idols. “Celebrity worshiping could thus have a prevalent influence on shaping their followers’ values, attitudes and behaviors”.

Fan bases

K-pop idols often have official fan groups. Some notable examples : Super Junior's ELF, Girls' Generation's SONE and EXO's EXO-L.

References

1. Chen, Jasmine (2013, Nov 22). The Differences between Sasaeng Fans and Normal Fans. Retrieved from http://exploringkpop.blogspot.hk/2013_11_01_archive.html
2. Soh, Elizabeth (2012, Aug 2). “Sasaeng Stalkers” (Part 1): K-pop fans turn to blood, poison for attention. Retrieved from https://sg.entertainment.yahoo.com/blogs/singapore-showbiz/sasaeng-groupies-gone-wild-part-1-k-fans-141105992.html
3. KoreaBoo (2014, Oct 21). Block B pleads to sasaeng fans to stop visiting their dorm. Retrieved from http://www.koreaboo.com/trending/trending-block-b-pleads-sasaeng-fans-stop-visiting-dorm/
4. EXO Love (2013, Aug 16). EXO reveals the hardship of having Sasaeng fans. Retrieved from http://exo-love.com/exo-reveals-the-hardship-of-having-sasaeng-fans/
5. Donna (2013, May 28).10 Craziest Things that Fans Did for their Idols. Retrieved from http://www.oddee.com/item_98593.aspx
6. mykpopidol (2012, Aug 7). Surrounded by Fans, Luhan EXO-M Fell at The Airport. Retrieved from http://mykpopidol.blogspot.hk/2012/08/surrounded-by-fans-luhan-exo-m-fell-at.html
7. ExoticPlanet (2013, Sep 30). SASAENG FANS NEED TO STOP!!!!!. Retrieved from http://ourexoticplanet.wordpress.com/2013/09/30/sasaeng-needs-to-stop/
8. Theodosiou, Barbara (2012, Mar 30). Celebrity Influences and Their Negative Impact on Today's Youth. Retrieved from http://www.reneweveryday.com/blogs/addicts-mom/celebrity-influences-and-their-negative-impact-on-todays-youth/
9. Oddnessweirdness (2012, Nov 7). KPOP WTF: IDOL MANAGERS BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT FOR HITTING FANS. Retrieved from http://oddnessweirdness.blogspot.hk/2012/11/kpop-wtf-idol-managers-back-in.html
10. Schultze, Q. J., Anker, R. M., Bratt, J. D., Romanowkski, W. D., Worst, J. W. & Zuidervaart, L. (1991) Dancing in the Dark: Youth, Popular Culture, and the Electronic Media. Grand Rapids, MI: Williams B. Eerdmans.
11. Farzana, Farah (2013, Sep 8). Kpop Fans Speech. Retrieved from http://www.scribd.com/doc/166412903/Kpop-Fans-Speech

• Articles to be merged from March 2015
• Misplaced Pages articles needing copy edit from December 2014
• K-pop
• Music fandom