K-pop Idols Raising Their Voices in the International Community... The Significant Role of the 'K-pop Fandom'

aespa Speaks at UN '2022 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development'
BTS, Three-Time Speakers at UN General Assembly Sessions
Global K-pop Fandom Influence... Role in Spreading Social Messages

Group aespa is delivering a speech at the "2022 High-Level Forum on Sustainable Development" held on the 5th (local time) at the United Nations General Assembly Hall in New York, USA.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Gun-chan] The number of K-pop idols attending the United Nations General Assembly and raising their voices in the international community is increasing. Along with the influence of K-pop idols, so-called K-pop fandoms that spread social messages are also playing a significant role, according to analysis.

According to SM Entertainment, the group aespa attended the opening section of the '2022 High Level Political Forum for Sustainable Development' held on the 5th (local time) at the UN Headquarters General Assembly Hall in New York, USA, and gave a speech under the theme 'Next Generation to the Next Level.'

At the forum, aespa, introducing themselves as a 'metaverse girl group,' delivered a message supporting sustainable development. Giselle, the main speaker for aespa, said, "Without equal opportunities for a sustainable Earth's ecosystem and a high quality of life, the real world that the metaverse can reflect will not exist."

K-pop idols invited to the UN General Assembly meeting programs are raising their voices in the international community. BTS, a group under HYBE, is a representative example. BTS has consistently delivered social messages as speakers at three UN General Assembly meeting programs.

BTS is speaking in the White House briefing room in Washington DC, USA. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, in 2018, they attended the 73rd UN General Assembly's 'Generation Unlimited' as global youth representatives and special speakers, delivering the message 'Love myself.'

In 2020, they also appeared as special speakers at the 75th UN General Assembly's High-Level Meeting of the UN Health Security Group. They conveyed the message "Life goes on," emphasizing not to lose hope for future generations worldwide struggling due to COVID-19.

The following year, they attended the opening session of the 76th UN General Assembly's 'Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Moment' as 'Special Presidential Envoys for Future Generations and Culture.' They called future generations the 'Welcome generation,' saying, "They are a generation that says 'welcome' rather than being afraid of change and moves forward."

There are also groups that act as UN ambassadors, not only speaking at UN General Assembly programs. BLACKPINK, under YG Entertainment, was appointed as a promotional ambassador for the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in February last year. In September, they were also appointed as the first Asian artists to become UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ambassadors.

The reason the UN chose K-pop idols as voices in the international community is analyzed to be due to their influence. Cultural critic Jung Deok-hyun said, "The messages conveyed by the UN are about values we must uphold from a global perspective," adding, "In the case of aespa, related to the metaverse, it would be more effective if the UN utilizes such K-pop idols."

BTS fans (ARMY) are entering the 'BTS Permission to Dance on Stage - Seoul' concert held at Jamsil Sports Complex in Songpa-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Another reason the UN is interested in K-pop idols is the ripple effect of K-pop fandoms, according to analysis. K-pop fandoms worldwide raise their voices and play a role in spreading social messages that the UN pursues, such as the elimination of racial discrimination and poverty.

In 2020, during the Black Lives Matter movement, K-pop fandoms including BTS's fandom 'ARMY' raised their voices against racial discrimination. Fans also conducted fundraising activities online at that time. Consequently, foreign media such as the American news magazine TIME and The New York Times referred to K-pop fandoms as 'political activism' and continued related coverage.

Critic Jung said about K-pop fandoms raising voices on social issues, "Fandoms, as groups sharing values, can be effective in spreading messages or exerting influence," adding, "Especially when fandoms unite and raise a single voice, they can demonstrate power."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.