User:DanyJG/Fandom culture in South Korea

The “Parasocial” Relationship

Korean idol fans are well known for their strong loyalty to one idol or a Kpop group. Only listening to the music their idols produce and support only their only them. This can be easily explained with the way idols are fabricated to have and form close connections with their fans. This close-knit connection is known as a Parasocial relationship. As the work done by Horton and Wohl (1956), “... parasocial interaction provides a useful starting point to explain some of the behavioral dimensions of K-pop idol fan cultures” one being that idols become more than just an abject to be admired by fans. This allows for the idol(s) to become a “parasocial-kin” an object of consumption and parasocial interaction. In the sense of forming not just an intimate connection but as well as a familial relationship. Which may explain the lasting loyalty Korean fans have to idols. This “parasocial kinship” is defined on how an individual would treat an extended member of the family which allows for further understanding of the positive and negative aspects of the idol/fan parasocial relationship. Korean fans don’t only form a parasocial kinship with their idols, but also with other fans of the same idol. Usually companies will release the idol’s ‘journey’ of becoming a celebrity to demonstrate that they were not necessarily born with natural talent making the fans visualize and believe that they can become an idol too. As long as they put in the effort  and sacrifice into the process of becoming an idol. Korean fans as a result see themselves as a member of the idol’s family. Korean fans put themselves as “protectors” of their idols against anyone that causes them harm such actions done by their management companies. Further demonstrating the parasocial kinship. Korean fandom culture almost in a way takes the position of a maternal/motherly figure. In the sense of protecting their idols from harm because he/she is unable to stand up or speak up for themselves; strengthening the intimacy between the fan and idol. Illustrating the formation of a parasocial kinship alliance.

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