Jakarta’s sky has turned dark.  Millions of lights from homes, office buildings, and vehicles replace the sunshine after it sets. While looking at the capital’s landscape from her high room window,  Helen Jessica (26) is lost in her favorite song.

Amgeona geona geona jjochda jichiji ma

Neul bala bala balabwassja kkum-i anya

Neol kkeonae kkeonae kkeonae jinjja ne mam-eul bwa

 —

After pursuing something, don’t get depressed

If you just sit still and wish, it won’t come true 

Look at who you really are, know what you want

“This song invites us to stop worrying and move forward to achieve our dreams,” muttered the woman who works as an employee at a Japanese private company.  The song Zimzalabim by Korean idol group Red Velvet gives an illusion that the listeners’ wishes would be granted.

Helen is one in millions of young people in Indonesia who love Korean Pop or K-Pop. Social media has played a very large role in the penetration of K-Pop to various parts of the world, including Indonesia. Through various platforms, fans can see first-hand the daily life of a K-Pop star, what they do, and what their views are on the world.

Helen feels that idol groups from South Korea are able to communicate with their fans very well.  Red Velvet, the girl group formed in 2014 by SM Entertainment, is willing to share various things with their fans, especially about the difficulties they face in everyday life.

Not only that, a Red Velvet member, Kang Seul-gi, also inspired her.  Seul-gi’s bold and androgynous style is what she often imitates. It is aligned with my personality, Helen said.

In 2021, Twitter stated that Indonesia topped the list of countries with the most K-Pop fans on the platform. In 2017, Statista, a market and consumer data company, showed that appearance was the driving factor of popularity of K-Pop in Indonesia. Anyhow, K-Pop always has its own place in the hearts of its fans.  Like Helen, who enjoys the rhythm of the music when she is alone.