<\/p>\n
\u201cBorn with voices that could drive back the darkness,\u201d the character Celine, a former K-pop idol, narrates at the start of Netflix\u2019s new release \u201cKPop Demon Hunters<\/a>.\u201d \u201cOur music ignites the soul and brings people together.\u201d<\/p>\n The breakout success of \u201cKPop Demon Hunters,\u201d Netflix\u2019s most-watched original animated film<\/a>, highlights how \u201challyu,\u201d or the Korean Wave<\/a>, keeps expanding its pop cultural reach. The movie, which follows a fictional K-pop girl group whose members moonlight as demon slayers, amassed over 26 million views<\/a> globally in a single week and topped streaming charts in at least 33 countries<\/a>.<\/p>\n From K-pop<\/a> and K-dramas<\/a> to beauty products<\/a> and e-sports<\/a>, hallyu \u2013 which refers to the global popularity of South Korean culture \u2013 has drawn in millions of fans worldwide. But beyond entertainment, many young people describe how their engagement with Korean culture supports their mental health and sense of belonging.<\/p>\n We conducted interviews with 30 non-Korean hallyu fans<\/a> aged 18-30 in Philadelphia<\/a> in 2019 to understand how they experience Korean cultural content. Our findings were recently published in the peer-reviewed World Leisure Journal.<\/p>\n The core themes, such as the emotional support, community building and cultural exploration offered by hallyu, remain relevant today, especially as Korean media continues to expand their global influence and resonate with new generations of fans.<\/p>\n Participants described hallyu, especially K-pop and K-dramas, as a refuge from the stress and negativity they associate with mainstream Western media.<\/p>\n \u201cI think Western music is a lot \u2026 more mellow,\u201d a 24-year-old social worker explained. \u201cIt\u2019s like a blunt kind of depression \u2026 it doesn\u2019t make you go out in the world and smile at everything.\u201d<\/p>\n In contrast, K-pop was often described as uplifting, playful and emotionally resonant. This contrast was especially important for individuals who felt overwhelmed by the hypersexualized or violent content common in Western pop culture.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like the stories in [Korean dramas] make more of an effort to connect with people,\u201d said a 22-year-old communications associate. \u201cThey\u2019re not as explicit. [For instance, simply] holding hands is a huge deal.\u201d<\/p>\n Another participant, a 19-year-old college student and part-time barista who identified as asexual, shared: \u201cI really like seeing content where they portray a hug or simple kisses as extremely intimate. \u2026 [I]t just makes me more comfortable.\u201d<\/p>\n For many interviewees, hallyu had become a form of emotional self-care.<\/p>\n \u201cIt supplements my happiness,\u201d a 25-year-old researcher said. \u201cI\u2019m a pretty optimistic person; it just kind of supplements that baseline optimism.\u201d<\/p>\n Others described how specific songs helped them through difficult times. The college student and barista recalled listening to the boy band BTS\u2019 \u201cMagic Shop\u201d during a spell of depression. \u201cI would just wrap a blanket around myself, sip tea \u2026 and it made me feel immensely better,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n This therapeutic effect is not accidental. BTS, one of the most globally recognized K-pop groups, has built its brand around messages of self-love and mental health awareness<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThey try to spread a message of loving yourself,\u201d a 24-year-old medical assistant explained. \u201cLike no one can love you unless you love yourself first.\u201d<\/p>\n Another key benefit of hallyu culture is the sense of community it fosters. Individuals from all backgrounds and ages connect through social media, fan clubs and local events.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve met a lot of people through [the K-pop club] on Temple\u2019s campus,\u201d one participant said. \u201cWe\u2019d watch K-pop and K-dramas together. \u2026 [T]hat is still one of our major connections.\u201d<\/p>\n Online platforms also play a crucial role. Individuals share translations, create fan art and organize charity projects in honor of their favorite idols.<\/p>\n \u201cWe do projects for BTS\u2019 birthdays,\u201d a 28-year-old government appraiser said. She also donated blood on the birthday of Mingyu<\/a>, a member of the K-pop group Seventeen.<\/p>\n For many Asian American fans, hallyu has also become a way to explore and affirm their cultural identity.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the Asian cultural dynamic \u2026 is familiar to me,\u201d a Chinese American participant said. \u201cIt encouraged me to be more proud of my own culture.\u201d<\/p>\n Another Chinese American participant, a third-year college student, reflected on how Korean dramas helped her appreciate traditional values: \u201cThey made me more aware \u2026 of how you should talk or act around people. It\u2019s constantly reminding me of ways I can self-improve.\u201d<\/p>\n Even non-Asian fans connected with the values portrayed in Korean media. One Jewish participant, a 26-year-old Ph.D. candidate, noted the similarities between Korean and Jewish family structures: \u201cOur morals, our values \u2026 just fit very well together.\u201d<\/p>\n While some fans acknowledged that their engagement with hallyu could be time-consuming, many saw it as a worthwhile investment.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s probably an embarrassing amount of time,\u201d one participant admitted. \u201cBut pretty much anytime I\u2019m bored, I turn to K-pop.\u201d<\/p>\n Another compared their hallyu consumption to \u201ctherapy sessions.\u201d<\/p>\n Others described how, over time, they became more involved in fan communities or online content, and this deeper level of engagement often led to skill-building and personal growth as they learned video editing, translation, event planning and even fundraising. Participants who raised money for animal shelters or dance studios, for example, said they were inspired by the values promoted in hallyu culture. These efforts helped them feel more connected to both their idols and one another.<\/p>\n \u201cI created a huge analysis on costuming in a certain music video for Seventeen<\/a>,\u201d a 26-year-old restaurant manager said. \u201cI just couldn\u2019t help myself.\u201d<\/p>\n In a media landscape often dominated by cynicism and spectacle, the Korean Wave offers an alternative: a space where joy, vulnerability and connection are not only possible, but celebrated.<\/p>\n Read more of our stories about Philadelphia<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n This article is republished from The Conversation<\/a>, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: A. Stefanie Ruiz<\/a>, Clemson University<\/a><\/em>; Femida Handy<\/a>, University of Pennsylvania<\/a><\/em>, and Sunwoo Park<\/a>, Clemson University<\/a><\/em> <\/em><\/p>\n Read more:<\/strong><\/p>\n The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\nA light space in a heavy world<\/h2>\n
Music as emotional medicine<\/h2>\n
Building community online and offline<\/h2>\n
Exploring identity and culture<\/h2>\n
A meaningful investment of time<\/h2>\n