Parasocial Relationship in the K-pop Community

Source: Seoulbeats

Parasocial relationships. The name in itself can sound intimidating or even scary. However, for the most part, that is not the case with many parasocial relationships. So what could be the problem? With the growing rise in popularity of K-pop, there is a startling notice in the amount of unhealthy parasocial relationships between K-pop idols and their fans. The question is, why are these specific relationships having higher cases of obsessed fans compared to western celebrities? In this article, we will be exploring what exactly are parasocial relationships, why these relationship dynamics are more intense compared to the usual celebrity/ fan dynamic, and provide advice for anyone experiencing unhealthy parasocial relationships.

Parasocial relationships are relationships involving one-sided connections between a person and a famous, or big named person,  “a parasocial relationship involves an enduring, one-sided connection between a viewer and a public figure.” (What are Parasocial Relationships, 2022). Given the definition alone, parasocial relationships sound and are very common within our post-modern society. You may possibly be engaging in a parasocial relationship as of now! How this relationship dynamic is possible is because we as humans become interested in the lives' of others; we grow attached from the one-sided connection made, “we become so invested when being a part of someone’s fandom or personal life. It is as if we have put ourselves in the equation, resulting in parasocial relationships.” (Aguayo, 2021). Despite popular belief, parasocial relationships can be very normal and even healthy, “parasocial relationships can be healthy in the sense that this person inspires you, encourages you, and helps you feel connected to others- especially for teenagers and young adults who are still trying to figure out who they are and their place in the world, parasocial relationships can be ‘a great way to connect to someone in a risk-free way,’” (Levithan, 2022). It is when the line between fascination and obsession is crossed, is when we see a parasocial relationship become unhealthy.

Although parasocial relationships can form between any public figure, such as a celebrity, and another person, the question is why are there so many more instances of obsessive parasocial relationships with K-pop idols and their fan base compared to western celebrities and their fans? Well, one of the answers to this is because of the volume of content that K-pop idols post for their fans to consume. The amount of content that is posted by K-pop idols is a lot of time more coverage than any other public figure would publish, “group’s members regularly uploaded content such as vlogs, selfies, dance and song covers, and more onto various platforms. Through these activities- fans could keep up with the daily lives and progress of the members” (Tantra, 2020). Also, to add further to this already deep fascination that K-pop fans have with idols, certain platforms allow paid, intimate access to idols through messaging, “K-pop stars often share stories about their daily lives, answer questions, open up and express their feelings and concern for fans through this application. Some [fans] commented that the content of communication between celebrities and fans on Bubble ‘is like a conversation between close friends’.” (Is the K-Pop Industry Encouraging Parasocial Relationships between Artists and Fans, 2021). Another stunt that causes fans to be obsessed with idols is the persona that these K-pop stars play. Specifically, a “boyfriend” or “girlfriend” persona feeds into unrealistic fantasies of the idol loving the fans back, however not in a platonic way that celebrities might love their fans. “The exposure of the personal moments and struggles of idols for all fans to see feeds into the feelings of love and understanding towards them, which then leads to the social interaction fans constantly crave” (Espinal, 2021). Of course, these are not all of the reasons why there are higher instances of obsessive parasocial relationships in K-pop compared to western public figures, but they do make big impacts on fans' mental and emotional health and how they view their favorite idols.

Source: KBIZoom

Some advice for anyone who wishes to prevent obsessive parasocial relationships or even try to curb unhealthy behaviors is to remind yourself that these idols (or public figures in general) are just regular people with unique jobs. It is very easy to be caught up in the glitz and glamor of fame, but at the end of the day, the stars being idolized are people who make mistakes, have insecurities, and have bad days. Another piece of advice is to not get caught up in what is called participatory culture; customs in which fans go to great lengths to provide support either financially or time-wise, “participatory culture means that fans not only consume media by listening and watching but also use selected media content to recreate and reproduce their content. Fans usually communicated through the sharing of physical text or art as well as gathering in fan conventions and fan meetings.” (Jenol & Pazil, 2020). And the last piece of advice is to maintain a sense of self-love. One of the many reasons we find ourselves getting involved in a parasocial relationship is that we are lacking self-esteem. Many people in today’s world struggle with their self-esteem, so when idols play into these “boyfriend” or “girlfriend” roles, they feel a sense of love that is lacking within themselves. This allows fans to get attached and further create unrealistic fantasies in their head, “self-esteem plays a huge role when discussing these one-sided relationships.” (Aguayo, 2021). Keeping grounded and being able to tell reality and fantasy when it comes to an idol's life, and feeling for their fans becomes an important aspect when navigating what makes a parasocial relationship healthy and what makes it an all-out obsession.

To draw things to a close, parasocial relationships are one-sided connections involving a person and a public figure through a digital format. Although many cases of parasocial relationships are normal and can even be healthy in some instances, things can take a big turn, as we see in some of those in the K-pop community. It is easy to get drawn into a K-pop idol when their lives are on constant display and are so easy to have access to on a personal level. However, with some careful reminders and helpful advice, people are more able to safely navigate healthy parasocial relationships with any public figure.

References

Aguayo, B. (2021, November 8). The Psychology behind Parasocial Relationships. In The Current The Student-run Newspaper of Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved October 13, 2022, from https://nsucurrent.nova.edu/2021/11/08/the-psychology-behind-parasocial-relationships/

Espinal, V. (2021, February 21). Parasocial Relationships in K-Pop: Emotional Support Capitalism. In Envi. Retrieved October 13, 2022, from https://www.envimedia.co/parasocial-relationships-k-pop/

Is the K-Pop Industry Encouraging Parasocial Relationships between Artists and Fans. (2021, October 31). In BIZoom. Retrieved October 13, 2022, from https://kbizoom.com/is-the-k-pop-industry-encouraging-parasocial-relationships-between-artists-and-fans/

Jenol, A. M., & Pazil, H. A. (2020, November). Escapism and Motivation: Understanding K-Pop Fans Well-Being and Identity. Retrieved October 13, 2022, from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nur-Ayuni-Mohd-Jenol/publication/346604107_Escapism_and_Motivation_Understanding_K-pop_Fans_Well-being_and_Identity/links/600ff307a6fdccdcb87f4cc3/Escapism-and-Mot

Levithan, H. (2022, July 24). What Is A Parasocial Relationship, and are they Healthy? Experts Explain the One-Sided Connection. In Women's Health. Retrieved October 13, 2022, from https://www.womenshealthmag.com/relationships/a40560383/parasocial-relationships/

Tantra, G. G. (2020, September 9). Defending K-pop Idols Online: The Fanbase’s Underlying Issue of Ignorance. In Santa Clara University Scholar Commons. Retrieved October 13, 2022, from https://scholarcommons.scu.edu/engl_176/52/

What are Parasocial Relationships? (2022, March 28). In Medical News Today. Retrieved October 13, 2022, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/parasocial-relationships#pros-and-cons