In 2019, Chilean K-pop fans mobilised in a collective effort through online activism to support the anti-government protests raising awareness and voicing their political opinion by utilising K-pop...Show moreIn 2019, Chilean K-pop fans mobilised in a collective effort through online activism to support the anti-government protests raising awareness and voicing their political opinion by utilising K-pop mechanics. In 2021 Chilean K-pop fans organised a presidential campaign endorsing candidate Gabriel Boric. Similarly, Thai K-pop fans played a significant role in the 2020 prodemocracy movement by raising awareness of the movement and organising fundraisers to support protesters with equipment and providing legal advice. In both instances, fans used Kpop tactics to effectively and meaningfully contribute to the political causes they deemed important. Thus, through the analysis of fans' activities and content shared online, aided by news articles reporting on fans' actions, this thesis aims to research the following questions: How did Chilean and Thai K-pop fans engage in political activism? What factors contribute to the politicisation of these K-pop fan communities? How did their actions influence public discourse and social change? This thesis concludes that both Chilean and Thai K-pop fans have effectively leveraged fandom tactics for political activism. Their actions underscore the intersections of cultural and political participation, highlighting how these K-pop fandoms can evolve into relevant and meaningful political forcesShow less
In preparation for the 2022 Philippine presidential election, K-pop fans nationwide united to campaign for presidential candidate Leni Robredo. The most crucial organisation that set this in motion...Show moreIn preparation for the 2022 Philippine presidential election, K-pop fans nationwide united to campaign for presidential candidate Leni Robredo. The most crucial organisation that set this in motion, K-pop Stans 4 Leni, created a community to talk politics, campaign for Robredo, and spread truthful information concerning the election. Through interviewing a member of this organisation and circulating a survey, this research aims to research how and why Filipino K-pop fans used K-pop as a tool for their political expression and activism during the 2022 Philippine presidential election and, therefore, how K-pop can be political. Results show that the participants in the organisation are politically active in character. The organisation became a political force using K-pop mechanisms to mobilise many fans swiftly. This research concludes that the organisation used K-pop since it effectively mobilises a large demographic who support their goals. Furthermore, this thesis concludes that K-pop fandom can be political, as shown by KS4GG. However, it cannot be concluded that all aspects of K-pop are political due to a lack of political participation. As this research primarily analyses participants involved with the organisation K-pop Stans 4 Leni, this should be noted as a limitation and allows for further research to be done.Show less
