Negotiating Identity of K-pop Fans in Bangladesh: Exploring Fandom and Identity-Making in the Digital Age

Korean popular music (K-pop) fans have formed global communities on digital media which serve as key platforms for interaction. Interactions among the different groups on social media platforms and networking services, particularly on Facebook indicate the existence of very active and passionate communities, which have also become an essential part of the Korean Wave. But how such groups are formed, and their activities move beyond online interactions towards fandom identity-making are yet to receive close attention. In the backdrop of K-pop as a global phenomenon, the chapter focuses on the Facebook-based groups in which youth fan-members find themselves actively engaged, which eventually contribute to building a shared identity. It particularly explores why the Bangladeshi fans get drawn to K-pop, as well as what prompted them to create Facebook groups; what kinds of activities they usually perform, and what motivates them to engage in those activities; and how the sense of belongingness and interactions among the group members contribute to building identity.