I'm Your Biggest Fan part 1
One of the most important things in the world of K-pop Demon Hunters are the fans — they or rather the unity and harmony of humanity are literally vital to keeping demons from the living world — but what does it actually mean to be a fan?
Paen [팬] or a Fan is a loanword from English that describes someone who supports a public figure whose content they enjoy whether it be idols, actors, models, comedians,, content creators, etc.
But in the world of K-pop, there is more to it as there are several types of fans:
These are what makes up the majority of a k-pop group's fanbase. They buy the group's music releases and stream them on platforms like Genie and MelOn, buy merch, watch their favorite group guest star on variety shows and radio broadcasts, buy products the group are promoting, and attend events the group is in or host for the fans.
Gaeinpaen or solo fans are a subcategory of fans who support one member of the group whom they have claimed as their bias
Choeae [최애] — Known in english as "Bias", a bias is the favorite member of a fan
Olpaein or All-Fan are those who like all the members equally (and therefore don't go insane over the gacha system that is pre-ordering or buying an album because whatever photocard you get of whichever member is entirely random)
Laiteupaen or Lightpaen or Casual fans are those who don't devote their entire life (and bank account) to support a group. Just there to listen the very specific things they like and vibe and have fun.
Multi-fans are those who support more than one kpop group and therefore in multiple fanbase.
Homma — short for Homepage Master — are the fans who take scarily good photos and videos of the group or their particular bias in venues, festivals, and airports, that it's almost professional grade photos. They're like paparazzi but they actually like the group and don't actually do it for the money
Personally, I would never ever even consider most of these types of people as fans, however they exist in the fanbases and so they have to be acknowledged (plus angsty/horror plot potential for kpdh fanfic writers out there)
These people aren't actually fans of the group but they are very dedicated to bringing down a group often for petty arbitrary reasons such as being too popular, being too arrogant, being the golden child of their agency at the expense of the other groups under the same agency, etc.
[Note: I don't think these girls are akgae, they literally look like they're still in junior high. I just need an image for this type of fans because the movie portrays fans in mostly in a positive light that I can't find anything else except that one Saja girl ㅠㅠ]
Akgaes, a portmanteau of Akseong [meaning "Malicious"] + Gaeinpan, are gaeinpaen but brought to a toxic 11. They'll ignore, hate, and put down the other members of the groups to "elevate" their bias because they view their bias the most superior member of the group. Sometimes their actions can get as bad as insulting the other members online or spreading misinformation about them
[Note: I don't think this girl is a sasaenng, I just need an image for this type of fans because the movie portrays fans in mostly in a positive light that I can't find any other negative fan ㅠㅠ]
The worst of the worst, sasaengs are "fans" who are so consumed by their obsession with the group — typically a particular member whom they've claimed as their bias — that they are willing to cross lines such as finding out what plane and seats the members are on in a flight abroad to get physical close to them, finding their personal information from personal numbers to contact them outside of official sites like Bubble and Naver Cafes, and worst of all causing physical and/or emotional harm on those who they've deemed as rivals of their bias or their own romantic rivals (almost any female idol who got way "too close" to their male idol bias and vice versa), or even punishing their own bias for acting in a way they disapprove of or for ruining their fantasy of them
Now what are the things fans are usually up to? Click here for part 2!
....When I get to it. I couldn't finish it in time so you'll have to wait for a couple of hours for when I wake up to finish part 2. I'm so sorry ㅠㅠ
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