From left, Mexican content creators and BTS fans Fer Vega, Susy Mouriz and Nataly Pop pose for a photo in Myeong-dong, Jung District, Seoul, March 19, two days before the group's comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
Lee Ji-haeng, assistant professor in the Department of K-Entertainment at Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) / Courtesy of JBNU
When online communities grow large enough, conflict is almost inevitable. Anonymous interactions, differing expectations and cultural divides can fracture even the most devoted fandoms.
Yet one global community continues to defy that pattern, according to Lee Ji-heng, assistant professor in the Department of K-Entertainment at Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) and a scholar of fandom studies.
"ARMY's greatest strength is not its organization or ability to mobilize," Lee, referring to the BTS fandom, told The Korea Times in a written interview. "It is its resilience."
