Social media has become a pivotal part of K-pop fans culture, providing fans with the chance to connect with idols, exchange updates, and follow their favorite stars’ lives in real time. While it fosters a sense of community, it also brings about a range of challenges, including fan wars and intrusive sasaeng behavior. To gain deeper insights, I sat down with K-pop fan Nahyun (21, from South Korea), who shares her experiences and views on these pressing issues.
Q：Have you ever witnessed a fan fight on social media? What was it about?
Nahyun: Yeah. Fan wars have been around for ages, but the first major one I witnessed online was between EXO-Ls (fans of EXO, a boy group under SM Entertainment) and ARMYs (fans of BTS, originally under BigHit, now HYBE). One particular incident that stands out happened in December 2017. There was a big online uproar when a video surfaced of a BTS fan making derogatory comments about EXO fans. The clip spread quickly, and while the person in the video later apologized, the situation escalated into a full-blown online feud between EXO-Ls and ARMYs. Social media was flooded with fandoms accusing each other of insults and disrespect, turning it into quite a heated debate.
Q：Have you ever seen sasaeng fan behaviour online (leaking schedules, stalking, etc)?
Nahyun: Yes, I have. One incident that stands out was when a sasaeng fan of EXO secretly placed a voice recording device in a member’s hotel room. The audio was later leaked online, causing quite a controversy. It was a shocking invasion of privacy, and just one example of how extreme some sasaeng behaviour can be.
Q：Do you think social media gives fans too much access to their idols’ lives?
Nahyun: I don’t think the internet itself is the real issue when it comes to idols’ privacy. The real problem has always been the people who actively dig into and spread private information. Some journalists chase celebrities’ personal lives just for clickbait, and there have even been cases where they buy information from sasaeng fans.
Q：What are your dream interactions? (e.g. idols liking your videos or posts, following your account)?
Nahyun: I see most of what idols present as an illusion—a carefully crafted persona. It might sound harsh, but it’s the reality. The fact that the term ‘‘idol persona’’ even exists in Korean social media says a lot. That being said, I don’t blindly consume everything they offer. I choose to consume their content selectively and respect the more ordinary, unfiltered side of them beyond their ‘idol persona’. In other words, I barely engage with them at all. I rarely comment on or share content related to my favorite idols, and I don’t follow news about their private lives or participate in fan activities on Twitter or Instagram. The most interaction I have is simply streaming their music and videos or liking their posts. That’s my way of balancing being a fan while keeping my personal life separate.