The Value of K-Pop Idols as Products Reflection by Allison

The Value of K-Pop Idols as Products Reflection by Allison - October 2026 Scholarship Essay

When I first got into K-Pop, I immediately noticed how much fans knew about idols’ personal lifestyles, such as who lives with who and the overconsumption of merchandise like albums and stuffed animals. But I also saw how many fans came together to support strangers, out of sympathy. The question I used throughout my research report for my Advanced Seminar class was: Should the K-Pop industry profit from parasocial relationships? To which I argued that although parasocial relationships provide profit within the industry, it is not justifiable due to the mental and social negative aspects that fans and idols face.
Examining stalking, fan service, the intense physical training, plastic surgery, and more caused me to be completely immersed in parasocial relationships in K-Pop. These elemental parts of the industry made me strongly opinionated about how interconnected relationships between idols and fans should not be monetized, especially as a main source for the K-Pop industry, for it promotes negative social, physical, and mental behaviors. Fans of K-Pop stay connected through social media platforms, leading to actions such as social support, spiraling mental health, and physical threats to idols. While social circles are essential for some fans to feel a sense of belonging through fan postings and content, inherently, it is unhealthy, further isolating them from authentic connections, enriching delusions, and irrational behaviors.
The only way to prevent parasocial relationships is through legislation on how much idols can promote groups within South Korea and companies, which will not be accomplished because of the profit within mainstream media and music. Although the increasing issue can not be solved due to greedy multi-million dollar corporations within the industry, future research could be done. Research ideas could consist of the intensive training of idols, who are as young as ten years old, and how K-Pop agencies encourage children to become public stars; the acceptable illusion of intimacy; and why some K-Pop fans struggle with in-person relationships.
A question that was raised in research: Why is there little legislation on hate speech in South Korea? Many situations and scandals within K-Pop would not occur for either fans or idols if laws were established. Inherently, the K-Pop industry should examine other methods to accomplish their profit goals, in which idols and fans will not experience detrimental effects to their health.