Welcome, new to K-Pop?*
어서 와 케이팝은 처음이지?
*This is a reference to the opening of the BTS song “쩔어” (“Dope”),
“어서 와 방탄은 처음이지” which roughly translates to “Welcome, first time with BTS?”
Where do I start?
Check out on of these sections to get started!
What is K-Pop?
A brief History & an overview of the differences between K-Pop & Western music
Becoming a K-Pop fan
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Listen
streaming
physical albums
tracking + charts
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Watch
music videos, dance practices + music content
variety shows + non-music content
music shows
concerts
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Interact
unwritten rules of becoming a K-Pop fan
social platforms
live streams
fan meetings + fan clubs + merchandise
How is K-Pop Different?
Learning the K-Pop Vocabulary
A few terms to get you started. Want to learn more? Check out our Glossary or Vocabulary sections.
Comeback + Debut
Comeback: When an artist returns with a new album or single
Debut: When a new group or solo artist is launched to the public
Light Sticks + Fan Chants
Light Stick: A customized, battery operated hand-held light that is designed to light-up along with the artist’s performance
Fan Chant: A supplemental chant for fans to sing along / interact with their favorite artist in performances. These are typically made for Title Tracks
Bias + Bias-wrecker
Bias: Your favorite member of the group
Bias-wrecker: Your second favorite member of the group that has the potential to become your bias
Hwaiting + Saranghae
Hwaiting (화이팅): A phrase frequently used to cheer someone on. Similar to " you can do it!" or "good luck!" Also, pronounced as “Fighting”
Saranghae (사랑해): I love you (informal speech)
Aegyo + ㅋㅋㅋ
Aegyo: Displaying cuteness or charming qualities with their behavior (e.g. changing his/her voice or making “cutesy” gestures)
ㅋㅋㅋ: Texting shorthand for laughing or LOL
SNS + Selca
SNS: Social Network Service, includes Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Weibo, etc.
Selca: A selfie - a combination of the words “SELf” & “CAmera”
Listen
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Listen on paid & ad-supported services like YouTube, Spotify & Apple Music.
Note: artists sometimes put unreleased content on Soundcloud, so if you hear of a song and can’t find it, check there!
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If you want to ensure that your purchases are counted toward weekly sales charts, make sure to confirm that the retailer you are purchasing from is counted. This typically includes:
*major music retailers (e.g. in the US, this includes Target, Amazon & Walmart)
*the artist’s merchandise store (make sure to purchase from the store (Global, Korea, etc.) you would like to make a sales impact in
*other official Hanteo & Circle Chart (Gaon) retailers
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Streams are counted differently by platform and there are many tips & tricks that fans have developed over the years.
A few include:
*use a paid streaming service (or free-premium trial)
*create multiple playlists to prevent ‘bot-like behavior.’
*do not use a VPN, loop a song/playlist or listen on mute
The US BTS Army page has a great overview of how it all works here.
Retail sales for Billboard charts & Korean charts are calculated differently.
For physical album purchases to impact Korean charts (Hanteo & Circle Chart), you will need to purchase them from a certified retailer.
You can check the full list of Hanteo Chart retailers & Circle Chart (formerly Gaon Chart) here.
Watch
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Music videos are the first stop to watch new releases.
However, there is a ton of non-MV content online.
To support new releases, there are dance practices, behind the scenes, etc. on the artist’s YouTube or social channels.
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The artist may also have their own variety show or web show, which are featured on their own social networks or video platforms.
You can also check YouTube for performances from the popular music shows and other media appearances.
The YouTube algorithm is typically pretty good at recommending related content once you start watching & searching consistently for an artist.
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K-Pop has multiple music shows that are recorded & aired each week.
Top Music shows include:
M! Countdown (Thursdays on Mnet)
Music Bank (Fridays on KBS, VOD on Viki)
Inkigayo (Sundays on SBS, VOD on Viki)
Show! Music Core (Saturdays on MBC Music, VOD on Viki)
Show Champion (Wednesdays on MBC Music)
SBS MTV The Show (Tuesday on SBS)
Note: some content may require paid membership
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Live concerts are an unforgettable experience. Many artists put their tickets on-sale for fan club members first, so make sure to check out their official channels for more details
Live concerts aren’t always feasible depending on your location or situation. Many artists also host streaming-only concerts or stream select live shows online.
A couple of popular platforms include Beyond live (SM & JYP) & Weverse concerts (HYBE)
Interact
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Many activities are planned around an artist’s anniversary of their debut, so mark your calendars!
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Check the artist & agency/label’s official social handles for the most accurate information. Note: sometimes there are multiple accounts for the artist & the label as well as individual group members.
Find out which K-Pop Specific Social platforms your favorite artist may be a member of:
Bubble - artists signed to JYP, FNC, WM, Jellyfish, IST, TOP, RBW and Starship (launching 2023)
Weverse - typically artists signed to HYBE (Big Hit, Source, KOZ, Pledis, ADOR) & YG labels, but many more
Kwangya Club - SM Entertainment artists (download the app in Google or Apple App Stores)
Fan cafe - some artists still maintain fan cafes - an online destination that pre-dates social media. Note: many of these may be in Korean only.
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Agencies create an official fan club for their artists that include direct communications, exclusive content, fan meetings, early access to ticket sales, lottery opportunities for in-person appearances & music shows and more.
Artists with large fandoms may also have their own fan-created channels to help new and current fans connect or learn more about their favorite artists, particularly translation resources and content guides.
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Agencies usually have a dedicated merchandise store for each artist & regularly release new merchandise, not only for new music releases but also holidays, birthdays and more. Make sure to check shipping costs if it’s coming from Korea!
You can also find many fan-made merchandise stores online as well as through distributors of K-Pop albums & merchandise. Beware of unofficial merchandise, particularly light sticks, as they may not work at concerts!
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If you don’t speak Korean, you may want to find a resource for translation
If you check Twitter or fandom run websites, they can usually point you in the right direction of some reliable translation resources.
Note: some auto-translation resources may not be 100% accurate, including Google Translate.
You can also try to learn Korean yourself! There are a ton of resources available to find the right method for you!
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While idols are sharing their lives with you, they are still real people who are entitled to their privacy. This includes their personal time when they are not doing “schedules” and official activities.
If you do meet an idol, be polite and respectful and try not to be a bother.
Check before taking pictures - you may be asked by their security to delete the photos.
If you do take photos, try not to share the location until the artist has left for their own safety.
Respect others and their opinions / choices - feel free to show your love and appreciation for your favorite artist(s). However, that doesn’t mean you need to hate all other artists and their fandoms.
Consider the golden rule - treat others as you would want to be treated - that applies to other fans, artists and anyone else you may encounter.
Questions? Comments?
Leave us a note.