Identifying Iranian teenagers in the fandoms of Korean pop as Ritual Communication

Document Type : Scientific-Research Article

Authors
Abdollah Bicharanlou 1
Matin Azizy Hamedany 2
1 Associate Professor, Department of Communication, Social Science Faculty, the University of Tehran, Tehran, I.R.Iran
2 Ph.D Student of Communication Science, the University of Tehran, Tehran, I.R.Iran
10.30497/rc.2024.244562.1976
Abstract
Over the past decade or so, fandom of Korean pop (K-pop) music bands has gradually expanded among many Iranian teenagers and young adults. This fan tendency, realized in the form of K-pop fan subculture, has emerged in the expressing the identity of teenage fans in different forms. The research question is, in what identity form does fandom of Korean pop music emerge? In the theoretical approach of the research, while pointing to the religious implications of some concepts and views of theorists of identity and ritual communication have been reviewed . To gather the data, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 teenage fans in social networks, along with the collaborative observation of Iranian teenagers K-pop fan pages.

The data was analyzed using thematic analysis and 1 overarching theme and 6 organizing themes were extracted.

The results show that fans of K pop have created profound effects on the way of giving meaning and understanding the world around in the minds of Iranian teenagers.

Believe in Korean stars, in addition to influencing the ways of understanding individual and social world, leads the Iranian teenagers to integrate into the global linguistic forms of K-pop fandom and tendency towards pseudo-religious rituals and norms.

Fan rituals are performed in a specific time calendar and with the union of fans of specific music bands in various virtual and non-virtual forms. It seems that admiring the personality and artistic features of Korean stars and extreme belonging to them gradually leads to the idolization of their personalities.
Keywords
K-Pop
Fandom
IranianTeenagers
Identity
Ritual Communication
Subjects
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Religion & Communication
Volume 32, Issue 1 - Serial Number 67
religion and communication
August 2025
Pages 419-454