I already expressed my love for k-pop on my previous posts. I have been a k-pop fan for less than a year and in this entry, I will share to you guys the pros and cons of being a k-pop fan.

Before we start,

What is K-pop?

For those who are living under the rocks, this is the definition of k-pop according to Wikipedia:

K-pop (abbreviation of Korean pop; Hangul: 케이팝) is a music genre originating in South Korea that is characterized by a wide variety of audiovisual elements. Although it includes all genres of “popular music” within South Korea, the term is often used in a narrower sense to describe a modern form of South Korean pop music drawing inspiration on a range of styles and genres incorporated from the rest of the world such as Western pop music, rock, experimental, jazz, gospel, Latin, hip hop, R&B, reggae, electronic dance, folk, country and classical on top of its uniquely traditional Korean music roots.

To make it simpler, it is the music genre from South Korea that is, well, popular. What makes it special that we love it a lot? I guess I’ll make an entry about this someday in the future.

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Pros:

1) You are good at memorizing faces and names.

If you are going to be a fan of a group, you should know their faces and names right? That’s how it becomes easy for you to memorize names and faces.

This applies mostly to the fans that stan multiple groups. As you stan more group the more you memorize names and faces and the more you practice memorizing names and faces that eventually result to improving your skill for remembering one’s identity.

2) You know lots of people

The k-pop world is not just about fangirling/fanboying. It is also about socializing with your “co-stans” and teamwork to keep your fave group on top.

It is not enough to love your fave group sincerely. You should also show it. You should vote on award shows, etc. While doing so, you may be able to socialize with your co-stans that are “incapable” of voting and help them.

There are also groups and communities on Social Media where all of your co-stans are members and able to interact with each other.

As a result, you also gain friends.

3) You learn to dance

Even if you are a dancer or not, you will still want to dance to your idol’s songs. You may dance stiffly but admit it, you still dance when you’re alone in your room.

4) You learn to speak Korean

Did you ever find your self talking in Korean when alone? Well, that’s normal if you’re a k-pop (and k-drama) fan.

After watching SOOOO MANYYYYYY variety or reality shows that features your idols, you pick up some Korean words and their meaning. Especially those words that are repeatedly spoken.

Eventually, you pick up these common expressions and use them without you noticing it.

5) You own lots of Social Media account

Awards are a big factor on your idol’s success and to get an award, your idol needs votes from his/her fans. But votes ain’t enough. They need many votes. For them to have many votes, fans create multiple accounts to vote.

6) You learn to be patient

Maybe you are the type of person that don’t like to wait before becoming a k-pop fan. But when you become a fan, everything changes.

You start to learn how to wait. How? It takes idols about 2-3 months before coming back with new music. When you become a fan, you learn to wait this long to see your idols again.

Also, there are times when a company confirms the comeback of your fave group. You feel very excited and just can’t wait. Your thoughts will be like:

Omoooo! They’re coming back! What will be their concept? When are they gonna release it? WHEN WILL THEY RELEASE THE TEASER PHOTOS? WHEN???????

Yeah. You can be a little impatient if you are just a new fan but as time goes by, you will be able to be patient. Of course, you will still be excited and curious about your idol’s comeback but it won’t be as bad when you were just a new fan. And as they say… Patience is a virtue.

7) You learn to save money

As a fan, you will want to buy your idol’s albums and merchandises (and concert tickets). To be able to do this, you need to save Money.

Eventually, you’ll find your self saving and if you earn enough, you will be able to buy your idol’s albums. Dream come true right?

8) HAPPINESS

As a fan, you will be happy to see how much your idol have achieved. That is thanks to you, and the other fans. With this in mind you will have that feeling of satisfaction that all the hard work to vote and support paid off.

9) Wide variety of music

K-pop is VERY VERY VERY (insert IOI’s Very Very Very) wide. There are lots of talented groups (a lot are underrated *sad face*) that you can listen to. Each group have their own style and aura so you can choose which is your style.

Also, k-pop group’s albums’ songs have different genre. Even those that aren’t the title tracks are high quality songs and are worth listening to!

10) You appreciate social media

As you become a k-pop fan, you will look for updates for the groups you stan and you will know the importance of social media with this. Searching about your idols on search engines and official sites is what you need to do to find updates. But with social media (facebook, twitter, youtube, etc.), it will be easier!

Thanks to official pages, the hardworking spazzers, and groups! Actually, I don’t really know how important these sites can be before. But when I became a fan, I appreciated them more than ever.

11) You have an inspiration

When you become a fan. Your bias becomes your inspiration to do better. You will be energized to do things and that will be really helpful to your personality.

12) Higher grades

This depends on the fan, whether it is a responsible or an irresponsible one. For responsible ones, since your bias becomes your inspiration as I mentioned on no. 12, you work harder. In result, you achieve higher grades.

13) Strong bond with your friend with similar interest

Isn’t it amazing that both you and your bestie love k-pop? Actually, this can help you have a closer relationship with your best friend.

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Cons

1) Language Barrier

One of the hardest parts of being a k-pop fan. It actually gets frustrating to watch a video about your bias group on youtube and then realize that there are no subtitles available.

If only we spoke the same language *sad face*

2) You’re poor

You’re poor. You don’t have money. You can’t save money.

I actually can relate to this a lot. You want to support your bias group by buying albums and stuff but YOU JUST CAN’T!!!

There are times that this gets frustrating as a fan.

If only I was born rich. *cries*

3) Frustrating bashers

Yes. Yes. Yes. Those bashers that don’t have anything to do but hate on your fave group! Honestly, I learned to ignore them but there are times that they are just too much! I know that people have their own opinion and feelings but do they really have to post it? Do they really need to post it where we, the fans, can see it? Come on! You can keep that to your selves!

People really need to learn not to hate. *sighs*

4) People judge you

I’m used to this one.

People be like:

“Di mo naman naiintindihan pinagsasasabi nila diyan eh.” (You don’t even know what they are talking about)

“Magkakamukha lang naman sila. Ba’t mo ba yan nagustuhan?” (They all look the same. Why do you like them that much?)

Well… As time goes by, I learned to ignore those comments of the people around me.

What can you do if the music I like is their music? *rolls eyes*

5) You spend too much money

I can’t relate on this one but I know many fans do. Why can’t you relate? As I mentioned earlier, I. DON’T. HAVE. MONEY. What will I spend if I don’t have money?

Many people (especially those who think they earn enough to buy anything) just buy this album here, buy this merch there. And you all know where this will end up. You’ll end up like me. A person without money.

6) You lose friends

Sadly, this is true. It never happened to me (and hope it won’t happen) but I know this happens.

There are times that you have totally different interest than your friend and you just end up breaking your friendship.

But I believe that real friendship doesn’t get broken just because of different personalities.

7) Your grades get affected

I mentioned on the Pros that this depends on whether you are responsible or irresponsible. If you are the later, well… your grades might go downhill.

8) Frustration and depression over your bias group/s

Yes. News like DISBANDMENT and MEMBERS LEAVING gets so frustrating and depressing. In some serious cases, there are suicide because of depression.

(This reminds me of SNSD). *Sad face*

9) Feeling miserable

You feel miserable because of the reality. What reality? The reality that you’ll never meet your bias in real life.

I already accepted that fact tho.

10) Losing time for your friends and family

This is one of the saddest cons of k-pop. There are times that you are so busy streaming for your idols that you forget to make time for the people you love and people that loves you.

The sadder thing is, you make more time for the people you never really (or will) meet than the people that is around you.

11) Lacking sleep

Yeah! Which reminds me that I only had three hours of sleep the day I’m writing this.

You know the feeling that you are in front of your gadget, reading and watching things about your bias groups then you’ll suddenly realize that it is already midnight?

A note to everyone: Don’t stay up all night all the time. It is not good for your health.

12) Being unproductive

As a student, this applies to me. There are just times that I don’t feel like doing anything and I just want to watch videos about my idols. This might actually lead to going down of grades.

Anyways, I control my self as much as I can at times like this.

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To sum it up:

Pros of being a K-pop fan:

1. You are good at memorizing faces and names
2. You know lots of people
3. You learn to dance
4. You learn to speak Korean
5. You own lots of social media account
6. You learn to be patient
7. You learn to save money
8. HAPPINESS
9. Wide variety of music
10. You appreciate social media
11. You have an inspiration
12. Higher grades
13. Strong bond with your friend with similar interest

Cons of being a K-pop fan

1. Language Barrier
2. You’re poor
3. Frustrating bashers
4. People judge you
5. You spend too much money
6. You lose friends
7. Your grades get affected
8. Frustration and depression over your bias group/s (about news of disbandment, etc.)
9. Feeling miserable (about the reality)
10. Losing time for your friends and family
11. Lacking sleep
12. Being unproductive

Anyways, remember that being a fan of k-pop can be a good or bad thing depending on yourself.

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I hope you enjoyed this entry! Comment down if you can relate and don’t forget to share this to your friends!