I am a white German/Italian New Yorker, but no music makes me happier and puts me in a better mood than K-pop. Watching a K-drama makes me feel things I don't feel with other TV dramas here. Things aren't easy for us fans, especially living in another country. Here are my top nine problems. Let me know if I missed any!
1. Going to a concert is pretty much impossible.
It's very rare that a band or artist you love is going to tour in America. I don't know about you, but I don't think I'm going to South Korea anytime soon.
2. Your taste in men has changed drastically.
Safe to say you are now looking for your Lee Min Ho now instead of your Channing Tatum.
3. Trying to convert non-K-pop fans.
When your friends give you the aux chord, you don't know whether or not you put on BTS' new song or just put on any other artist without judgment.
4. Buying merch is a headache.
Sometimes you just want to buy a sweatshirt with your favorite band's logo on it but finding a website is extremely difficult, and don't even get me started on shipping. Thanks, eBay...
5. When your favorite K-drama ends and you know there's no season two.
So you finished watching a K-drama and you have so many unanswered questions. But it's rare when a drama gets a second season. Therefore, you are lost with those questions and will never have an answer. Oh well, more for your imagination I guess.
6. When there's a live stream but you're on the other side of the world.
Because as fate would have it, you don't live in the same time zone. Most of them, in my experience, have been around 2 or 3 a.m. Yeah, not happening. I need my sleep. I'll find out what happened in the morning.
7. You start to pick up Korean words.
Not saying it's a problem or a bad thing, but when you accidentally just say something in Korean, your friends and/or family may look at you in a certain way.
8. You're in for life.
No matter what you do, listen to or watch, you will now forever be a K-pop/K-drama lover and nothing is going to change that for you. You are now in a cult with other fans and there's really no getting out.
9. You don't care, you wouldn't have it any other way.
So let people look at you funny or make fun of you, you just keep on listening to GOT7, BTS, KNK, etc. and keep watching Boys over Flowers, You're Beautiful, Heartstrings, etc. because you deserve to be happy and let fictional characters and gorgeous singers take over your life.
