Indian K-POP Fan Community Supports Military and Combats Fake News Amid India-Pakistan Conflict

Indian K-POP fan communities have stepped forward to support the Indian military and counter fake news during the India-Pakistan conflict. Sreeya Rangka, India’s first K-POP star, is leading these efforts. Originating from Odisha, Sreeya Rangka is a member of the South Korean girl group BLACKSWAN. The 23-year-old singer and dancer praised the bravery of the Indian military in her Instagram Stories, writing, “Proud of our Protecters, Jai Hind.” BLACKSWAN became the first non-Korean K-POP girl group to gain global popularity in 2023 with their full-length album “That Karma.” Though they primarily sing in Korean mixed with English, each member brings unique cultural backgrounds. Sreeya, in particular, has established a distinct identity on the global K-POP stage by combining Indian classical dance with modern styles. Indian K-POP communities are showing solidarity through social media. Following the Pulwama terror attack on April 22, messages of support for the Indian military from K-POP fans flooded social networking sites. In a situation plagued by fake news, the rapid digital mobilization of K-POP communities has played an unexpected positive role. Multiple Indian K-POP fan accounts joined forces to protect information aimed at defending India. Indian K-POP fans, particularly those from BTS and BLACKPINK fandoms, actively countered fake news on social media. They shared threads explaining that India has suffered from terrorism for decades and posts detailing the India-Pakistan situation for non-Asian followers. These efforts received praise from Indian online communities. One netizen commented, “Indian k-pop fans, I wasn’t familiar with your game,” while another wrote, “Big respect to Indian BTS K-pop fans and BLACKPINK Fans who’ve consistently upheld India’s image on Twitter. While fandoms can be chaotic, you’ve shown maturity, unity, and global awareness. Thank you for representing us so well.”