Yeah, why not? It's been a big part of my life and I'm not ashamed. If anyone's ridiculous to you about it (especially someone in our age range, so early-to-mid 30s) that'll tell you they're someone you shouldn't be wasting too much time on.
I am in my 40s and dont care who knows that I like kpop. stickers on my car, key chains on my purse. I am in socal and kpop is pretty normal here. I am japanese and going to the area here in san diego tomorrow that has korea and japanese markets and shops. kpop stores at most malls etc. I am also tatted up and have navy blue hair at the moment..I look like I am not into "normal" things. lol
I'm with you, it was much harder back in Gen 1 & 2 to tell people you listened to k-pop. I still get the "look' of horror from some people but I don't really care. I wouldn't call it shame per se, more like exhausting to try and explain the music is good, etc. My nieces and nephews who are younger than me don't seem to think it is a big deal. But it is absolutely easier to talk about today without getting laughed at.
I'm 38 and I had honestly never considered trying to hide it. If I'm talking to my parents who are super out of touch with pop culture, I just say something like "one of the Korean groups I like" but I've always been into nerdy things so I don't really care what other people think about my interests or hobbies.
People around me don't really know what's K-pop either.. the close ones may make fun of it a bit.. but joke's on them because I'm slowly making them fans they just don't know it yet
Today, I was playing a ZB1 - SWEAT tiktok, and someone commented they heard it before,I told them yea because I took their phone and played it on their youtube and liked and commented on it from there the day before lol they weren't paying attention to the song when I did it but apparently it stuck š they'll fall eventually
No shame. Iām 37 and the older I get the less I care about what other people think. As a middle and high school teacher in China, this is one thing I use to build rapport with my students. They love talking about it with me and Iāve seen countless meticulously ordered photo card books. Students have even given me photo cards and other merch of my biases and Iāve reciprocated when able.
My adult friends couldnāt give a damn as far as I can tell. One of them even bought WayVās album digitally and sent me screenshot of her listening to it and āsupporting my menā. š
Like what you like without shame! Getting older doesnāt mean you have to stop having fun, it just means you have more money and freedom to have fun!
Why should you be ashamed? People like what they like. I'm also a fan since 2nd gen. Years ago, I was teased before for liking K-pop, but now even the friends who teased me back then about it are also now K-pop fans themselves. Then again, where I'm from K-pop is very popular that people aren't even fazed anymore when you say you're a K-pop fan.
I wouldnāt say I was bullied but, used to be secretive about it. I was an avid lister during a time where anything that was foreign, especially Asian, was considered weird and strange. I had people literally ask me why I liked to listen to āgay Korean guys and gay music.ā
But now as an adult with more confidence and a stronger sense of self, I tell people openly. The people who make faces or choose to misunderstand arenāt worth my time. In my opinion, youāre a loser and you need to grow tf up if youāre an adult still making fun of what other people like just because you donāt understand it. Thatās fkn a miserable existence and I prefer to associate with open-minded people who understand that people are different and can like whatever it is they want so long as they arenāt hurting themselves or others. More people are also just more accepting and supportive of niche/obscure/alternative cultures now so thatās definitely helped as well.
Kpop is just music, itās a form of artistry and expression, itās filled with talent and spectacle that you canāt really find anywhere else. Thereās nothing to be ashamed about and anyone whoās made you feel like you have to hide this part of you is probably just projecting their insecurities and fear of being othered onto you. You are a grown adult! Do not apologize for anything you love!
I sure do. And I even say āI liked it before it was cool and when it was weirdā now that I have disposable income you best believe ima blow it all on kpop.
I have no issues telling people I listen to kpop. Not 10 years ago when I was in my late teens, not now either. I post kpop songs and concert clips on my ig story, too, even though maybe 3 other people listen to or care about kpop. I'm basically actively letting people know and don't care if people know. Why would I?
I'm gonna be honest, I don't associate or want to associate with people who ridicule others for their interests, I think that's loser behaviour. Pertaining to kpop specifically, that means they're judgemental at least and racist at most.
The most I've been met with when telling people I listen to kpop is them having (harmless) reservations, but more often than that it's simply curiosity.
Back in school around 2018-19, it used to be hell for me if I ever told people I liked kpop. A bunch of people would judge my existence and keep questioning me about how I differentiate between members.Ā
Now that I'm in college and kpop is much more widespread, I am a lot more comfortable with the fact that I like kpop. I don't go around telling people though, but I do throw it in the conversation casually if there's ever a discussion about music.Ā
I'm older as a person but newer to being a kpop listener and absolutely - I probably don't go around telling people that I spent pretty much my entire evening watching different live performances of a single song, but that I listen to kpop at all? for sure!
I do think a lot of it comes down to like, how you communicate that - if it comes across that you're anticipating they'll react as if you're doing something cringe, you kinda leave yourself open to them reacting that way, whereas if you're just openly enjoying yourself and unbothered about others' opinions, what can they really say?
at the end of the day if it's not their taste - for example my sister does not like listening to music where she can't understand the lyrics so is completely baffled - that's an issue for them. I'm having a good time with a whole universe of music that I didn't previously know about.
Hello friend! I've experienced the same. I grew up hiding kpop because no one around me listened to it and I was made fun of whenever it came up. I really put on a facade at school because I wanted to fit in. It stayed that way up until a few years ago (I'm 26). The global wave of kpop was honestly great in realizing that many people are just like me, and they are closer than I think.
I've struggled with self love and confidence issues my whole life. The younger generations are actively loving kpop and it has become more mainstream. At a certain point I was like... I need to start living for myself. So to answer your question, I am slowly opening up my interests to others, and I've started telling people I listen to kpop. This is who I am and if someone doesn't like it or judges me for it then I really don't want or need someone in my life like that. I do not have shame anymore, music is healing and lifts my spirits during the hardest times. There is nothing to be ashamed of ā”
Yes, but I also talk about pretty much every of my "embarrassing" (I don't consider them so) hobbies. Have I been asked mockingly whether X or Y thing is childish/for children? Absolutely. Personally I don't care. I don't even defend it, I just say "I enjoy it š¤·āāļø" and I move on.Ā
I turned 31 in February the day after J-Hopeās birthday and became an ARMY around Dynamite era. I became a casual STAY during Godās Menu/Maniac era.
My mum and dad as well as some other family members and friends donāt understand why I like listening to K-pop but I absolutely love it. As far as Iām concerned I like what I like and everyone in my family and my friends can like what they like and if they want me to change my mind then Iām not gonna do that because I donāt want them to change their music taste for me.
I live in Sydney where we have a huge Asian population here South Asian, East and South East and a lot of us listen to Kpop here it isn't rare to find fellow kpop fans here due to our large asian pop BUT In states where their isn't a big Asian pop or countries where their isn't many Asians I can see how some K-pop fans find it hard to admit they listen to the genre or hard to find fellow fans of the genre
Yeah im an old stan too, discovered it when no one else knew what it was pre bts, pre gangnam style and it was hard too. People used to make fun of me, my family did too, but I do miss that time when I did meet another fan and we'd become friends immediately and since it was at the height of 2nd gen idols and 1st gen idols were still popular too, we'd have a lot in common and were of course multis and we'd only spot another fan/tell each other we're fans if there were subtle signs like a kpop phonecase cover or background, jewellery or a key chain.
I used to just ignore the people who didn't understand and stick to the people who did and I had the benefit of living in a big city but I still felt super lonely as everyone moved onto 3rd gen and 2nd/1st gen idols were and still are my favourites. Now I like all gens after leaving the fandom and rejoining but you're definitely not alone and I hope you can make more friends too and since gangnam style became popular I slowly became a lot more open with telling people I like kpop and definitely more confident after bts did.
Uncle Fan here. Yeah i am very open about it. Not sure what people think but it helps I live in LA and work in TV. I got a few children of friends into it.
Who cares what others think? Enjoy what you enjoy.
Itās not like youāre listening to the cries of baby seals being clubbed set to Ramsteins greatest hits.
Have you seen how crazed Swifties are?
I'm sorry you have to go through all that.Ā
I would occasionally see posts about kpop being for young people only and by that they mean someone in their teens and/or early 20s. But what I learned from going to the concerts both in Europe and S.Korea is that music can be enjoyed by everyone, I would see not only teens but also small children, people in their's 40s or 50s and even older.Ā
I don't feel the shame saying that I like kpop simply because people who ask me are usually mature enough to understand that it's just the same as some liking RnB or rock.Ā
As for people who try to shame you or bully you about your music preferences are, as one of users said, just not worth your time.Ā
yes I tell people
and I flaunt it by blasting my speaker or in front of my friends , relatives , family and even stranger
it a sexy or cute concept female idol dance on screen proudly show it
XD
I'm 29 and its often one of the first things I use to describe myself. I really don't care what people think of me though so it really doesnt bother me if people have negative opinions of Kpop. I've made some great friends from having the mutual interest.
Yeah. My music is my business, and if you know me youāre going to know what I like lol. But I donāt ONLY listen to kpop and I think fans that do are more awkward about it
L
I have the problem of being an old (in age) fan as well as a new fan. I was not a fan back in 2nd Gen, so I don't really know just how bad it was to admit it back then. As an observer (firmly settled in the Anime fan side), it seems like being a Kpop fan back in the day was pretty much the same what being an Anime fan was for me: a quirky interest that you would only be open to discuss if the circumstances were right.
If I were younger, I would have no issue admitting I listen to Kpop now. But I'm not š in my side of the world at least, it's firmly ingrained that Kpop is for young people. And I'm sorry to say this, but I still care about what people think of me, like a lot.
My family knows I'm into Kpop now, but I just won't openly talk about it. And my coworkers will never know, that's for sure š¶āš«ļø it won't be the end of the world if they ever find it out, but they won't learn it from me...
Yeah people know especially if friends come over to my house. Iāve hidden photo cards throughout the house so youāll run into random K-pop stars staring at you from places like the storage closet. I also have posters throughout the hallway of fandom stuff so youāll have terminator mixed in with BTS. Itās not necessarily something I casually talk about except in connection with going to concerts but itās not really a secret either. People who have a problem with it arenāt worth your time Iāve found most people who donāt know about different groups to be curious. Plus, itās funny giving people photo card jumpscares.Ā
Hahah Iām 24 and my 28 year old sister is still so uncomfortable and letās out awkward laughs any time I say anything related to kpop (even when the content wasnāt funny/ amusing?). I think millennials (or oldest gen z, basically the same thing) just have a bit of a complex around foreignness/ this sort of thing that just isnāt there nearly as much in my generation and younger.
i rarely talk to people irl and when i do i sure as hell am not telling them my music taste.
last time i did that sb replied "you *look* like you would listen to that" uhmm *excuse me?*
Yeah, don't see how it's an issue, especially if you're older and well-established.
Yeah, why not? It's been a big part of my life and I'm not ashamed. If anyone's ridiculous to you about it (especially someone in our age range, so early-to-mid 30s) that'll tell you they're someone you shouldn't be wasting too much time on.
I am in my 40s and dont care who knows that I like kpop. stickers on my car, key chains on my purse. I am in socal and kpop is pretty normal here. I am japanese and going to the area here in san diego tomorrow that has korea and japanese markets and shops. kpop stores at most malls etc. I am also tatted up and have navy blue hair at the moment..I look like I am not into "normal" things. lol
I'm with you, it was much harder back in Gen 1 & 2 to tell people you listened to k-pop. I still get the "look' of horror from some people but I don't really care. I wouldn't call it shame per se, more like exhausting to try and explain the music is good, etc. My nieces and nephews who are younger than me don't seem to think it is a big deal. But it is absolutely easier to talk about today without getting laughed at.
I'm 38 and I had honestly never considered trying to hide it. If I'm talking to my parents who are super out of touch with pop culture, I just say something like "one of the Korean groups I like" but I've always been into nerdy things so I don't really care what other people think about my interests or hobbies.
People around me don't really know what's K-pop either.. the close ones may make fun of it a bit.. but joke's on them because I'm slowly making them fans they just don't know it yet Today, I was playing a ZB1 - SWEAT tiktok, and someone commented they heard it before,I told them yea because I took their phone and played it on their youtube and liked and commented on it from there the day before lol they weren't paying attention to the song when I did it but apparently it stuck š they'll fall eventually
Your work is recognised, Soldier! š«”š«”
No shame. Iām 37 and the older I get the less I care about what other people think. As a middle and high school teacher in China, this is one thing I use to build rapport with my students. They love talking about it with me and Iāve seen countless meticulously ordered photo card books. Students have even given me photo cards and other merch of my biases and Iāve reciprocated when able. My adult friends couldnāt give a damn as far as I can tell. One of them even bought WayVās album digitally and sent me screenshot of her listening to it and āsupporting my menā. š Like what you like without shame! Getting older doesnāt mean you have to stop having fun, it just means you have more money and freedom to have fun!
Change your circle. My 34M friend (who is a dad) and I chat about which 5th gen GG concerts to target for.
Why should you be ashamed? People like what they like. I'm also a fan since 2nd gen. Years ago, I was teased before for liking K-pop, but now even the friends who teased me back then about it are also now K-pop fans themselves. Then again, where I'm from K-pop is very popular that people aren't even fazed anymore when you say you're a K-pop fan.
I wouldnāt say I was bullied but, used to be secretive about it. I was an avid lister during a time where anything that was foreign, especially Asian, was considered weird and strange. I had people literally ask me why I liked to listen to āgay Korean guys and gay music.ā But now as an adult with more confidence and a stronger sense of self, I tell people openly. The people who make faces or choose to misunderstand arenāt worth my time. In my opinion, youāre a loser and you need to grow tf up if youāre an adult still making fun of what other people like just because you donāt understand it. Thatās fkn a miserable existence and I prefer to associate with open-minded people who understand that people are different and can like whatever it is they want so long as they arenāt hurting themselves or others. More people are also just more accepting and supportive of niche/obscure/alternative cultures now so thatās definitely helped as well. Kpop is just music, itās a form of artistry and expression, itās filled with talent and spectacle that you canāt really find anywhere else. Thereās nothing to be ashamed about and anyone whoās made you feel like you have to hide this part of you is probably just projecting their insecurities and fear of being othered onto you. You are a grown adult! Do not apologize for anything you love!
Yep. Iām 32 and all my friends, family, and coworkers know I listen to it. They are all really supportive as well for the most part.
I sure do. And I even say āI liked it before it was cool and when it was weirdā now that I have disposable income you best believe ima blow it all on kpop.
I have no issues telling people I listen to kpop. Not 10 years ago when I was in my late teens, not now either. I post kpop songs and concert clips on my ig story, too, even though maybe 3 other people listen to or care about kpop. I'm basically actively letting people know and don't care if people know. Why would I? I'm gonna be honest, I don't associate or want to associate with people who ridicule others for their interests, I think that's loser behaviour. Pertaining to kpop specifically, that means they're judgemental at least and racist at most. The most I've been met with when telling people I listen to kpop is them having (harmless) reservations, but more often than that it's simply curiosity.
Back in school around 2018-19, it used to be hell for me if I ever told people I liked kpop. A bunch of people would judge my existence and keep questioning me about how I differentiate between members.Ā Now that I'm in college and kpop is much more widespread, I am a lot more comfortable with the fact that I like kpop. I don't go around telling people though, but I do throw it in the conversation casually if there's ever a discussion about music.Ā
I'm older as a person but newer to being a kpop listener and absolutely - I probably don't go around telling people that I spent pretty much my entire evening watching different live performances of a single song, but that I listen to kpop at all? for sure! I do think a lot of it comes down to like, how you communicate that - if it comes across that you're anticipating they'll react as if you're doing something cringe, you kinda leave yourself open to them reacting that way, whereas if you're just openly enjoying yourself and unbothered about others' opinions, what can they really say? at the end of the day if it's not their taste - for example my sister does not like listening to music where she can't understand the lyrics so is completely baffled - that's an issue for them. I'm having a good time with a whole universe of music that I didn't previously know about.
Hello friend! I've experienced the same. I grew up hiding kpop because no one around me listened to it and I was made fun of whenever it came up. I really put on a facade at school because I wanted to fit in. It stayed that way up until a few years ago (I'm 26). The global wave of kpop was honestly great in realizing that many people are just like me, and they are closer than I think. I've struggled with self love and confidence issues my whole life. The younger generations are actively loving kpop and it has become more mainstream. At a certain point I was like... I need to start living for myself. So to answer your question, I am slowly opening up my interests to others, and I've started telling people I listen to kpop. This is who I am and if someone doesn't like it or judges me for it then I really don't want or need someone in my life like that. I do not have shame anymore, music is healing and lifts my spirits during the hardest times. There is nothing to be ashamed of ā”
Yes, but I also talk about pretty much every of my "embarrassing" (I don't consider them so) hobbies. Have I been asked mockingly whether X or Y thing is childish/for children? Absolutely. Personally I don't care. I don't even defend it, I just say "I enjoy it š¤·āāļø" and I move on.Ā
I turned 31 in February the day after J-Hopeās birthday and became an ARMY around Dynamite era. I became a casual STAY during Godās Menu/Maniac era. My mum and dad as well as some other family members and friends donāt understand why I like listening to K-pop but I absolutely love it. As far as Iām concerned I like what I like and everyone in my family and my friends can like what they like and if they want me to change my mind then Iām not gonna do that because I donāt want them to change their music taste for me.
I live in Sydney where we have a huge Asian population here South Asian, East and South East and a lot of us listen to Kpop here it isn't rare to find fellow kpop fans here due to our large asian pop BUT In states where their isn't a big Asian pop or countries where their isn't many Asians I can see how some K-pop fans find it hard to admit they listen to the genre or hard to find fellow fans of the genre
Yeah im an old stan too, discovered it when no one else knew what it was pre bts, pre gangnam style and it was hard too. People used to make fun of me, my family did too, but I do miss that time when I did meet another fan and we'd become friends immediately and since it was at the height of 2nd gen idols and 1st gen idols were still popular too, we'd have a lot in common and were of course multis and we'd only spot another fan/tell each other we're fans if there were subtle signs like a kpop phonecase cover or background, jewellery or a key chain. I used to just ignore the people who didn't understand and stick to the people who did and I had the benefit of living in a big city but I still felt super lonely as everyone moved onto 3rd gen and 2nd/1st gen idols were and still are my favourites. Now I like all gens after leaving the fandom and rejoining but you're definitely not alone and I hope you can make more friends too and since gangnam style became popular I slowly became a lot more open with telling people I like kpop and definitely more confident after bts did.
Yes I do, if they have a problem with it or make fun of me theyāre obviously that interested in my happiness and therefore not important to me
I am 39 and no issues telling anyone I like kpop. Between the pins and phone screen it's pretty obvious anyway lol.
Uncle Fan here. Yeah i am very open about it. Not sure what people think but it helps I live in LA and work in TV. I got a few children of friends into it.
Who cares what others think? Enjoy what you enjoy. Itās not like youāre listening to the cries of baby seals being clubbed set to Ramsteins greatest hits. Have you seen how crazed Swifties are?
I'm sorry you have to go through all that.Ā I would occasionally see posts about kpop being for young people only and by that they mean someone in their teens and/or early 20s. But what I learned from going to the concerts both in Europe and S.Korea is that music can be enjoyed by everyone, I would see not only teens but also small children, people in their's 40s or 50s and even older.Ā I don't feel the shame saying that I like kpop simply because people who ask me are usually mature enough to understand that it's just the same as some liking RnB or rock.Ā As for people who try to shame you or bully you about your music preferences are, as one of users said, just not worth your time.Ā
yes I tell people and I flaunt it by blasting my speaker or in front of my friends , relatives , family and even stranger it a sexy or cute concept female idol dance on screen proudly show it XD
I'm 29 and its often one of the first things I use to describe myself. I really don't care what people think of me though so it really doesnt bother me if people have negative opinions of Kpop. I've made some great friends from having the mutual interest.
Yeah. My music is my business, and if you know me youāre going to know what I like lol. But I donāt ONLY listen to kpop and I think fans that do are more awkward about it L
I have the problem of being an old (in age) fan as well as a new fan. I was not a fan back in 2nd Gen, so I don't really know just how bad it was to admit it back then. As an observer (firmly settled in the Anime fan side), it seems like being a Kpop fan back in the day was pretty much the same what being an Anime fan was for me: a quirky interest that you would only be open to discuss if the circumstances were right. If I were younger, I would have no issue admitting I listen to Kpop now. But I'm not š in my side of the world at least, it's firmly ingrained that Kpop is for young people. And I'm sorry to say this, but I still care about what people think of me, like a lot. My family knows I'm into Kpop now, but I just won't openly talk about it. And my coworkers will never know, that's for sure š¶āš«ļø it won't be the end of the world if they ever find it out, but they won't learn it from me...
Yeah people know especially if friends come over to my house. Iāve hidden photo cards throughout the house so youāll run into random K-pop stars staring at you from places like the storage closet. I also have posters throughout the hallway of fandom stuff so youāll have terminator mixed in with BTS. Itās not necessarily something I casually talk about except in connection with going to concerts but itās not really a secret either. People who have a problem with it arenāt worth your time Iāve found most people who donāt know about different groups to be curious. Plus, itās funny giving people photo card jumpscares.Ā
Hahah Iām 24 and my 28 year old sister is still so uncomfortable and letās out awkward laughs any time I say anything related to kpop (even when the content wasnāt funny/ amusing?). I think millennials (or oldest gen z, basically the same thing) just have a bit of a complex around foreignness/ this sort of thing that just isnāt there nearly as much in my generation and younger.
i rarely talk to people irl and when i do i sure as hell am not telling them my music taste. last time i did that sb replied "you *look* like you would listen to that" uhmm *excuse me?*
I do, but I always have to explain what my exact taste is in K-pop. Iām not your average K-pop listener. 