There are different reasons why people love K-pop. Fans find comfort in the songs of their favorite artists, and interacting with their idols or participating in fan events brings them joy. On top of that, they can feel a sense of belonging within the community.

Fans have various ways of showing their appreciation for K-pop and engaging with the culture. Whether you’re a seasoned fan or just new to the fandom, you may encounter many people who act differently from you even though you share the same interests.

K-pop fans can be classified into different types based on their behavior and preferences:

1. Casual listeners

These people enjoy listening to K-pop songs and may follow a few groups and artists, but do not delve deeply into fandoms. They check out the discography of certain artists and watch music videos occasionally, especially if there are new releases or comebacks. However, they don’t actively participate in fan activities or K-pop events. In short, casual listeners appreciate the music without allocating much time, effort, or money to it.

2. Multi-stans

These people support and follow multiple K-pop groups or artists. They stay updated on different groups, attending multiple concerts and buying various merchandise. Their time and resources are balanced across several fandoms. Multi-stans enjoy going to fan events for the artists they like and have a bias in each of these groups. When you ask them about their ult (the group/artist at the top of their list), they won’t be able to easily name one.

3. Loyal fans

While there are people who like different artists, there are also those who dedicate themselves to one group only. Ever since they became a fan of that group, they haven’t tried extending their interest to other artists. Loyal fans only buy a specific group’s merchandise, and only watch shows with them in it. They keep up to date with everything that their favorite group is doing.

4. Fan Artists and Writers

If you’ve encountered K-pop fan art or fan fiction on digital platforms, it was probably created by these people. Fan artists and writers use their creative talents to produce content inspired by their favorite K-pop stars. They share their creative works online for fellow fans to enjoy and participate in fandom events like fan art contests or writing challenges. When there is a call for fan submissions as a gift or project for K-pop idols, these people are the first to send their artworks.

5. Collectors

These people show love for their favorite K-pop idols by purchasing various merchandise. They save up money to buy albums, photocards, posters, and other collectibles. If their favorite artists are endorsing or modeling for a certain brand, they try to buy that too. Collectors make it their mission to own almost every piece of merchandise related to their favorite group or artist. Thus, they often engage in trading with other fans or create accounts on buy-and-sell platforms to complete their collections, especially for their bias.

7. Leaders

These people plan and initiate fan activities like cupsleeve events, streaming parties, block screenings, or other gatherings. They manage fan bases and spearhead fan projects for their favorite K-pop artists. Leaders release streaming and voting guides to help the group win in music shows or award shows. They also organize hashtag parties for comebacks, birthdays, or anniversaries to get them trending. Active on social media platforms, they are usually the first to post news or updates about your idols, making you wonder where they got that information.

8. Dance Cover Artists

Another way that fans show support for their favorite K-pop artists through their talents is by creating dance covers. These people learn choreographies from K-pop music videos and post dance covers on YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok. They also create tutorial videos and participate in dance challenges. Dance cover artists enjoy participating in random play dances and may perform at fan events. Typically members of dance cover groups, they participate in dance competitions and engage with other dancers online.

9. Influencers

These people enjoy turning their friends into K-pop fans. Influencers create fan edits and guides to stanning so that other people can discover their favorite K-pop artists. They create engaging content on social media platforms to pique the audience’s interest. Memes or clips of K-pop video content are uploaded by influencers to make their idols go viral. Sometimes, they also post translations of updates about their idols so that their posts can connect with more people.

The types in this list aren’t mutually exclusive, and you can fall under one or multiple categories. No matter what practices you do as a fan, what’s important is your sincerity in supporting K-pop artists and their music. After all, you should be able to enjoy something that you invest your time and resources in.