K-Pop Fans Build Dream Teams Using Movie Characters to Revitalize Fandoms

The success of Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters” has further energized K-Pop fandoms. At KCON LA 2025, fans participated in a project where they selected their favorite idols to form teams similar to those in the movie, including the HUNTR/X group. The dream teams created by fans varied widely. One fan assembled a team featuring Taerae of ZEROBASEONE, Dahyun of TWICE, and Leehan of BOYNEXTDOOR, while other fans chose popular idols such as SUGA of BTS, Karina and Winter of aespa, Eunha of GFRIEND, and Wonyoung of NewJeans. Some fans completed their teams with three members from aespa or included members like Ningning, Asa, and Anna. The influence of K-Pop culture is also evident on university campuses. The K-Pop dance club “DayBreak” at Santa Clara University grew from around 10 members at its inception to over 40 members today. Annie Nguyen, the club’s founder, said, “K-Pop was a genre that many people didn’t understand, but now fans can form communities by dancing together.” DayBreak performed at the 3-day 626 Night Market in May 2024, attracting tens of thousands of attendees, and its videos on YouTube have accumulated over 2,800 views in the past year. Club members use online tutorials to learn the complex choreography of K-Pop idols. Nguyen cited performing “Drama” by aespa as her favorite performance experience, explaining that “it’s appealing to be able to do the same choreography as your favorite member.” The emotional impact of K-Pop culture is also worth noting. In a study conducted among 30 K-Pop fans aged 18 to 30 in Philadelphia, participants described Hallyu as “a refuge from stress and negativity.” A 24-year-old social worker said, “Western music tends to be heavier and darker, while K-Pop makes people smile at the world.” Some fans were also drawn to K-Pop dramas. A 22-year-old communications expert explained, “Korean dramas make more effort to connect with people. They’re not as explicit as Western content.” Another 19-year-old college student who identifies outside the binary gender spectrum said, “It feels comfortable to see warm physical contact portrayed as something truly intimate.” A 25-year-old researcher described K-Pop as “something that complements my happiness,” noting that many fans use it as a means of emotional self-care. The fact that the movie “KPop Demon Hunters” recorded 26 million views just one week after its preview is seen as a reflection of this fan enthusiasm and sense of community.