The Influence of K-Pop Fandom on Cross-Cultural Social Identity among Indonesian Teenagers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37899/mjds.v2i4.218Keywords:
K-Pop Fandom, Cross-Cultural Identity, Indonesian Teenagers, Social Networks, Youth CultureAbstract
The rapid growth of Korean popular culture, especially K-pop, has transformed global youth culture and reshaped identity formation across national borders. In Indonesia, teenagers represent one of the most active groups of K-pop consumers, engaging not only with music but also with diverse fandom practices that encourage cross-cultural interaction. This study explores the influence of K-pop fandom on the cross-cultural social identity of Indonesian teenagers and views fandom as both a cultural space and a social arena. A qualitative descriptive case study design was employed to capture teenagers’ lived experiences within fandom communities. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews, participant observation in online and offline fan spaces, and analysis of fan-produced documents. Purposive sampling was applied to select active teenage fans with variation in gender, education, and length of participation. Thematic analysis identified patterns of cultural adaptation, social belonging, and identity construction. The findings show that fandom shapes cultural interests through language learning, adoption of practices, and intercultural awareness. Socially, it strengthens belonging, loyalty, self-expression, and peer networks. However, financial pressure, stereotypes, parental conflict, and competition also arise for many teenagers.
References
Aini, Q. (2025). A Literature Review on the Impact of the K-Pop Phenomenon on Media Consumption Patterns and Cultural Identity among Students. SocioSphere: Journal of Interdisciplinary Social Science, 1(1), 19-30.
Chen, R., & Newman, J. I. (2025). Politics of Mediation, Social Relations, and Meaning-Making in Chinese Satellite Football Fandom. Journal of Global Sport Management, 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1080/24704067.2025.2478560
Eden, C. A., Chisom, O. N., & Adeniyi, I. S. (2024). Cultural competence in education: strategies for fostering inclusivity and diversity awareness. International Journal of Applied Research in Social Sciences, 6(3), 383-392. https://doi.org/10.51594/ijarss.v6i3.895
Ferdman, B. M. (2017). Paradoxes of inclusion: Understanding and managing the tensions of diversity and multiculturalism. The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 53(2), 235-263. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021886317702608
Gürsoy Erdenay, H. E. (2025). The Theoretical Framework for Social Identity. In Georgian Internally Displaced People: The Formation of a Social Identity (pp. 25-45). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-82255-1
Hizwaty, A., & Butsaban, K. (2025). Influence Of K-Pop Fan Culture On Indonesian Fans’behavior Toward The Korean Basketball League. Procedia of Multidisciplinary Research, 3(6), 6-6.
Jeong, W., & Bae, S. K. (2024). Bridging Cultures in a Globalized World: Concepts, Frameworks, and Intercultural Competence Assessment. The Korean Language in America, 28(1-2), 159-196. https://doi.org/10.5325/korelangamer.28.1-2.0159
Jingke, X., & Jiayi, W. (2021, June). Research on Fan Culture and Identity in New Media Environment. In 2nd International Conference on Language, Art and Cultural Exchange (ICLACE 2021) (pp. 121-126). Atlantis Press.
Jung, S. (2011). K-pop, Indonesian fandom, and social media| Jung| Transformative Works and Cultures. Transformative Works & Cultures, 8. https://doi.org/10.3983/twc.2011.0289
Kim, M. S., Wang, S., & Kim, S. (2023). Effects of online fan community interactions on well-being and sense of virtual community. Behavioral sciences, 13(11), 897. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13110897
Kirin, A., Kadri, R. M., Hussain, M. H. M., Ismail, F. H., Baba, R., & Ahyani, H. (2025). K-Pop Culture and Its Influence on Student Lifestyles: A Socio-Cultural Analysis and Islamic Perspective at UTHM Pagoh. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 9(16), 92-104. https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2024.916SCO0009
Koroglu, Ş., & Ozmen, O. (2022). The mediating effect of work engagement on innovative work behavior and the role of psychological well-being in the job demands–resources (JD-R) model. Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Administration, 14(1), 124-144. https://doi.org/10.1108/APJBA-09-2020-0326
Korte, R. F. (2007). A review of social identity theory with implications for training and development. Journal of European industrial training, 31(3), 166-180.
Kwon, S., & Lynch-Kimery, M. (2025). Fans between and beyond boundaries: exploring the ‘unremarkable’translingual practices of anglophone Korean pop music fans on social media. International Multilingual Research Journal, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1080/19313152.2025.2473232
Lee, J. M., & Lau, G. (2025). Uniting global fans and revolutionizing K-pop marketing: Weverse, a global fan community platform. Asia Pacific Business Review, 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1080/13602381.2025.2534346
Leung, S. (2012). Catching the K-Pop wave: globality in the production, distribution, and consumption of South Korean popular music. Senior Capstone Projects, 149, 1-85.
Li, H. (2025). Digital Geopolitics and Globalization: A Comparative Study of TikTok and K-pop. Journal of Contemporary Art Criticism, 1(1), 58-69. https://doi.org/10.71113/JCAC.v1i1.317
Malik, Z., & Haidar, S. (2023). Online community development through social interaction—K-Pop stan twitter as a community of practice. Interactive Learning Environments, 31(2), 733-751. https://doi.org/10.1080/10494820.2020.1805773
Martin, A. J., Collie, R. J., & Malmberg, L. E. (2024). Exploring the roles of academic, personal, and cultural demands and resources in immigrant students' motivation, engagement, and achievement. Learning and Instruction, 92, 101903. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.learninstruc.2024.101903
Mastromartino, B., Wang, J. J., Suggs, D. W., Hollenbeck, C. R., & Zhang, J. J. (2022). Dimensions of sense of membership in a sport fan community: Factors, outcomes, and social capital implications. Communication & Sport, 10(6), 1229-1256. https://doi.org/10.1177/2167479520956370
Mohyeddin, Z. (2024). Cultural identity in a globalized world: Navigating tradition and modernity. Frontiers in Humanities and Social Research, 1(3), 106-115.
Nam, K., Kim, H., Kang, S., & Kim, H. J. (2024). The BTS ARMY on Twitter flocks together: How transnational fandom on social media build a viable system. Telematics and Informatics, 91, 102143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tele.2024.102143
Nopas, D. S., & Ueangchokchai, C. (2025). From blade to belief: moral learning through demon slayer among ASEAN youth. Qualitative Research Journal, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1108/QRJ-05-2025-0158
Novianty, R. D., & Srimulyani, N. E. (2024). K-Pop as a Popular Culture Influencing Indonesian Student’s Lifestyle. Cultural Narratives, 1(3), 156-166. https://doi.org/10.59066/cn.v1i3.615
Parc, J., & Kim, S. D. (2020). The digital transformation of the Korean music industry and the global emergence of K-pop. Sustainability, 12(18), 7790. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12187790
Reimer, N. K., Schmid, K., Hewstone, M., & Al Ramiah, A. (2022). Self‐categorization and social identification: Making sense of us and them. Theories in Social Psychology, Second Edition, 273-295. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781394266616.ch11
Sinaga, O. G., Harahap, R. H., & Annisa, S. (2024). Analysis of the Influence of the Korean Pop Culture Phenomenon (K-Pop) on Student Learning Motivation. Journal of Sumatera Sociological Indicators, 3(2), 298-307. https://doi.org/10.32734/jssi.v3i2.18642
Sun, E. M. (2025). “Just Pop, Hold the K”: Global Fandom, Cultural Identity, and the Politics of K-Pop (Master's thesis, Georgetown University).
Swan, A. L. (2018). Transnational identities and feeling in fandom: Place and embodiment in K-pop fan reaction videos. Communication Culture & Critique, 11(4), 548-565. https://doi.org/10.1093/ccc/tcy026
Tertiano, R. F., & Salehudin, I. (2023). Fandom Power: Examining Customer Engagement, Attitudes, and Purchase Intentions in K-Pop Fandom-Brand Collaborations. ASEAN Marketing Journal, 15(1), 2. https://doi.org/10.7454/amj.v15i1.1208
Yang, T., Zhu, G., & Wu, F. (2024). Participate in philanthropy for idols or society? Fans’ social media practices, dual identity, and civic engagement in Chinese online fandom. Social Media+ Society, 10(2), 20563051241261290. https://doi.org/10.1177/20563051241261290
Yoo, S. C., Fan, H., Piscarac, D., & Puentes, S. T. (2025). Advertising together for our K-pop idol: The roles of trust, loyalty, and perceived value in K-pop crowdfunding for outdoor advertising. Journal of Theoretical and Applied Electronic Commerce Research, 20(1), 44. https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer20010044
Yoon, K. (2022). Between universes: Fan positionalities in the transnational circulation of K-pop. Communication and the Public, 7(4), 188-201. https://doi.org/10.1177/20570473221136667
Zalli, E. (2024). Globalization and education: exploring the exchange of ideas, values, and traditions in promoting cultural understanding and global citizenship. Interdisciplinary Journal of Research and Development, 11(1 S1), 55-55. https://doi.org/10.56345/ijrdv11n1s109
