Music fans fear K-pop artists getting involved in politics could hurt them and the entertainment industry

K-pop fans around the world supported Black Lives Matter protests, and some in the US were instrumental in Donald Trump’s rally flop

Fans in South Korea fear their idols will be pulled into foreign partisan fights; their political stances could ‘eventually come back to hurt them’, one says

3-MIN READ3-MIN

K-pop fans and TikTok users have claimed responsibility for the low turnout at Trump’s rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma – but some South Korean music fans of groups like BTS are concerned that this melding of music and politics could hurt the artists and the K-pop industry.

Published: 10:15pm, 24 Jun 2020Updated: 4:29am, 25 Jun 2020

Some tech-savvy followers of K-pop music have emerged as increasingly active players in American politics, but in the birthplace of the genre South Korean fans are wary that their favourite artists will be pulled into foreign partisan fights.

Fans of K-pop artists, including the wildly popular BTS, have rallied around major US political movements in recent weeks, using their online communities and mobile apps to encourage participation and donations.

K-pop fans and users of TikTok, a popular video-sharing app, claimed partial credit for inflating attendance expectations at a less than full arena at US President Donald Trump’s rally in Oklahoma over the weekend.

Earlier this month, they waded into social media protests against racism and police brutality, with BTS fans matching the band’s US$1 million donation to Black Lives Matter (BLM).

Empty seats at a rally for Donald Trump in Oklahoma. Photo: AP

“The mobile-based communication channels favoured by the millennial generation provide an effective means to quickly spread their political voices and mobilise support,” said Jung Duk-hyun, a South Korean culture critic.