• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.480-493
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• 2021

In this paper, we attempt to empirically explain the process by which fandom performs social participation using digital media. To do this, we utilize the concept of identification and the Situational Theory of Publics in a theoretical framework, and study ARMY, BTS fandom. We confirmed a positive association between communication behavior and social participation, and verified a mediating effect of the identification as well. Interestingly, horizontal identification, a fan-to-star friendly relationship, had a greater effect on moving toward social participation than did vertical identification, a fan's blind worship of a star. This study has significance in that it has figured out the relationship of personal feelings to public participation by mobilizing achievements in various research fields.

• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.59-68
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• 2020

The present study aims to explore the influence of BTS, which is popular around the world. Specifically, it aims to look at differences between Korean and Chinese BTS female fandom. Besides, it also explores factors affecting fandom's daily happiness. The study conducted a survey with Korean and Chinese female fans. Findings from surveys suggest that first, there are differences on star attributes, fandom activity and illusory romance between Korean and Chinese female fandom. Specifically, Chinese female fandom's professionalism and artistic attractiveness which are included in star attributes, and illusory romance which is gained in fandom activity are higher than Korean. In addition, Korean female fans actively participated in offline fandom activities, while Chinese female fans actively participated in online fandom activities. Second, it is found that fandom activity, star identification and illusory romance have positive effects on daily happiness. Based on these findings, implication, limitations, and topics for future research are discussed.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.89-99
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• 2021

A brand community refers to a group of people who have a passion and loyalty for the brand, and is attracting attention as an effective marketing strategy to increase brand equity because it actively tends to support and promote the brand without expecting compensation. The objective of this study is to identify factors that are needed for sustainable brand community management. Existing studies on brand community management have mainly been conducted by quantitative methods measuring consumer satisfaction and dissatisfaction towards brand community activities, however, this study applied qualitative methods using means-end chains and laddering approaches in order to deeply identify a consumer's desired value on brand community activities. An in-depth interview of 41 members of BTS ARMY, a representative example of brand community, has been conducted and analyzed. The result of this study is as follows. In order to encourage active brand community activities, it is important to provide brand community members with a variety of high-quality brand-related content for a unique aesthetic experience, and a forum where all members can interact and exchange information and ideas to enhance brand value and experience. Finally, to nurture a strong brand community as a partner to co-create brand equity, rather than just a fan community, it is needed to build an environment that fosters opportunities for brand community members to increase self-respect and fulfillment through their brand community activities.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.671-680
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• 2017

Contemporary people can form a broad social sympathy on cultural products based on the present Korean image. K-pop is good material to use to share korean culture, and fans who are enthusiastic here are increasingly demanding cultural products. The visual materials of Bangtan Boys are collected from their album covers, and a concept book, and divided into specific and symbolic images. Based on this motif, three specific images: 'bulletproof vest', 'army house + superhero extract image', and 'Wings symbol', six designs were proposed. In addition, six motifs from the music videos for recent popular songs, 'Spring Day', 'Blood, Sweat and Tears' and 'Burning Up' were selected as symbolic images. Each selected image is divided into a normal line and a special line. The former is a relatively small, stable, and popular style, and the latter is a large, original, and bold style. By drawing and transforming extracted images and motifs using Adobe Illustrator CS6 and Adobe Photoshop CS6 program, a full-width umbrella design was developed. The messages that the Bangtan Boys wants to convey through their music are put into cultural products that contemporaries can sympathize with. By developing umbrellas, a variety of items and design goods can become desirable points of consumption as high-value products by domestic and foreign fandom. If designs that incorporate various elements of future K-pop contents as well as other Korean Wave contents are developed, it will be possible to develop original design products that will form global understanding.

• The Korean Journal of Archival Studies
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• no.60
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• pp.161-194
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• 2019

In modern society, popular music is becoming a reflection of public consciousness, and due to advances in technology, pop music culture is gradually spreading both quantitative and qualitatively as it provides access to popular music in a variety of different ways. K-pop has become more important to society as it reflects the social status of the day, showing the most active activities and influences at home and abroad. In this study, we revealed the definitions and characteristics of K-POP and K-POP fandom. Then, a survey was conducted on the fandom of BTS, A.R.M.Y, which can represent K-POP fandom. The survey looked at the general perception of K-pop fandom's archives, the current status of its collection and production records, the perception of popular music archives, and the donation and commission of their records. At the results, we proposed utilization plans of K-POP fandom records, for developing popular music archives.

• Proceedings of the Korea Contents Association Conference
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• 2019.05a
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• pp.37-38
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• 2019

최근 인터넷 기반의 웹 2.0의 시작으로 정보나 콘텐츠를 누구나 이용할 수 있는 인터넷환경이 제공되었다. 특히 소셜미디어를 통해 빠르게 공통관심사를 공유할 수 있는 커뮤니티를 구성하고 있으며, 온라인에서의 공동체는 개인의 정체성과 집단적 정체성을 교차하는 영역을 이루고 있다. 이러한 온라인 공동체에서 팬덤은 참여가 높고 사적 수준에서 결속력이 강한 공동체를 형성하는 집단이라고 할 수 있다. 본 연구는 이러한 문화 현상에서 유대관계가 강하게 형성된 '팬덤'이라는 이용자를 대상으로 이용동기 요인과 이에 따른 스타와의 상호작용을 통해 형성되는 커뮤니티의 충성도에 어떠한 영향을 미치는가를 알아보고자 한다. 커뮤니티 사례의 내용분석을 통해 팬덤의 일반화된 이용동기에 관해 살펴봄으로써 커뮤니티의 사용자 측면에서 시사점을 제시하고자 하였다.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.193-202
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• 2021

HYBE Insight, opened in May 2021, is an exhibition space that visually displays and re-interprets the BTS Universe and its content. The space echoes the identity of BTS as an artist and the specificity of the cultural phenomenon they have generated. This study analyzes HYBE Insight's BTS exhibition by applying new museological theories and discourses. Based on a qualitative research methodology including literature review and observational method, the primary themes of the exhibition are follows: 1) a contextualized exhibition content presenting the identity of BTS and their music, 2) the role of the fandom Army's participation in (re) producing BTS content related to the characteristic of popular music museums, 3) the elements of convergence art and its contemporary implication, 4) and the illumination of cultural value in popular music museum management. As the pivotal theory of new museology suggests, investigating a specific exhibition based on each context it has created is significant. However, those studies, including exhibitions related to popular music/artists, were mostly developed in Western nations. In this respect, HYBE Insight's BTS exhibition provides considerable room to explore. In addition to the recent research on BTS, such as their convergent artistry, socio-cultural influence, the role of Army, and the characteristics of HYBE's content management, this article aims to contribute to the multifaceted research by scrutinizing the BTS exhibition content from the new museology perspective.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.189-198
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• 2019

This study aims to make meaning of the reactions of the Korean people through the text mining of comments on videos of the December 2018 MMA performance of intro on YouTube. For this, comments on 15 YouTube videos were collected over the past 10 months. With the collected data, a total of 5,135 comments were analyzed through crawling using the Python and BeautifulSoup programs, data was refined over a total of 3 sessions, and a final total of 5,080 comments were used as analysis material. A mining technique was used for data analysis and the process of refinement, analysis, and visualization was achieved using the Textom program. Research results showed that keyword analysis showed the keywords of 'performance', 'Korea', 'video', 'top', 'cool', 'dance', 'idol', 'legend', 'love', and 'gratitude' in that order and keywords such as 'patriotism' and 'Olympics' also appeared frequently. N-gram analysis showed that comments with contexts such as 'a top performance that will remain a legend among Korean idol performances', and 'an idol performance that displayed the traditional culture of Korea' were in higher ranks. Based on such keyword analysis results, topic modeling was applied and 5 top keywords were extracted from a total of 5 topics. Analysis results of topic contents and distribution showed that topics in the comments of this performance's videos largely consisted of the 3 reactions of 'high praise regarding the stage performance', 'affection towards the fusion and artistic sublimation of Korean traditional dance', and 'gratitude towards the uploading of cool dance videos'

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.158-168
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• 2020

This paper analyzed the process of text generation of the fan-made works in Korean idol. The subjects of the study adopted the fan-made works of 'BTS' and 'EXO'. This is applied the concepts of 'Apparatus-Operator' and 'Technical form' in Vilém Flusser. Idol contents build a database of fan-made works and create the storyworld through separation and integration of fan's interpretations. By decontextualizing and recontextualizing the idol contents, fans reinforce and extend the original texts.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.98-115
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• 2022

The purpose of study was to analyze the process of accepting by BTS fans. The methodology used in this study was qualitative research using grounded theory and the results of the study follow. As a result of open coding, 47 concepts, 23 subcategories, and 14 categories were derived. In the axis coding stage, the casual conditions were "Recognition of BTS image," "Fascinated by BTS image," "Simple consumption of BTS image," and "Arising and expansion of curiosity about BTS image." The contextual conditions were "Accessibility of BTS image" and "Abundance of BTS image searching paths." The central phenomenon appeared to be "Immersing and studying BTS image." The arbitration conditions were "Capabilities required to reproduce BTS image" and "Motivation for contributing BTS image." The actions/interactions were "Presenting BTS image," "Contribution to the spread of BTS image," and "Involved in forming new BTS image." The result was "Emergence and expansion of new BTS image meaning" and "Strengthening attachment to BTS." Through process analysis, it was found that acceptance of BTS images consisted of five stages: "Recognition of BTS image," "Becoming curious about BTS image," "Searching BTS image," "Intervention of BTS image." and "Reproduction of BTS image." As a result of deriving the core categories through selective coding, the core category was "Forming a bond while participating in the BTS image."