K-fan 101: Basic fandom terms you must remember

Master your K-fan vocabulary to get the most out of the Hallyu experience. Image: Viu

You see an unfamiliar trending hashtag and got curious, so you clicked. Minutes after, you’re totally immersed in browsing to know more about the Korean names you stumble upon.

You laugh. You find yourself amused. Your curiosity is further piqued. You research further; clicking turns into watching video clips and ends in binge-watching shows.

Congratulations, you have just entered the Hallyu world!

“Hallyu” is the term coined by Chinese media to describe the “Korean wave” that swept fans of pop music, TV shows and movies in the region and beyond. Being part of the wave also means you will encounter more unfamiliar terms used by fans and media, terms that make the whole Hallyu experience unique.

To help you get a good grasp of the Hallyu world, here are some of the K-pop fan terms which fans often use on a daily basis:

1. Bias group – Your favorite idol group.

2. Ultimate bias – Favorite member from your favorite K-pop group or band. Fans often joke about how hard it is for them to pick their ultimate bias.

3. OTP (One true pairing)/Ship – Your favorite combination of personalities in the Hallyu world. It’s similar to the concept of love teams here in the Philippines.

4. “Fighting!” – This means “Cheer up!” in Korean. This is their other way of saying “Good luck!”

5. Merch – Short term for merchandise. These refer to all kind of goods available that feature idol groups.

6. Fan goods – Some K-pop fans are also creative; that’s why some of them sell fan-made products to their co-fans, specially during concert tours.

7. Sasaeng fan – Obsessed fan who stalks his/her idol, even coming to a point of doing illegal actions.

8. Aegyo –The Korean style of showing cuteness, or in Filipino culture, doing pa-cute actions or poses.

9. “Dae bak!” – Korean expression used when something shocking happens, whether in a good or bad way.

10. Maknae – The youngest member of the idol group.

11. Leader – The leader of the group. He/she organizes all the things among members and often acts as the spokesperson during important events.

12. Visual – The most handsome or the prettiest member in the team.