We are at the global seminar “K-Pop Beyond BTS: Media technology, creative industries and fandom culture.” Stay tuned for our live tweets! 
BTS & K-pop offer a "soft masculinity" alternative against the backdrop of growing toxic masculinity -- Hong Seok-kyeong, professor of SNU
"While the media tends to dismiss fans as young people who have been brainwashed by the capitalist entertainment industry, this research argues K-pop fans possess their own agency and fully understand the Korean music industry system" -- Areum Jeong of China's Sichuan University
While seeing K-pop fans hurt by trolling is unfortunate, fans should ask, "does this deserve the attention people are pouring into?” -- Michelle Cho, University of Toronto, Canada
Dal Yong Jin of Canada’s Simon Fraser University, recently asked a total of 214 BTS fans: Why do you like BTS?
Enjoyment of music (41), Members’ personalities or attitudes (38), Message (35), Performances (17), Support through hardship (14), Connections with fans (10), and etc
Enjoyment of music (41), Members’ personalities or attitudes (38), Message (35), Performances (17), Support through hardship (14), Connections with fans (10), and etc
He continues: BTS inspired fans to work hard, change for the better and accept themselves. The key theme of their Love Yourself series and UNICEF campaign is the ideas of self-love
Some 200 academics and BTS fans have gathered here at Yonsei University in Seoul to learn the cross-cultural impact of BTS and K-pop in general.
"K-pop Beyond BTS, a global seminar backed by @BigHitEnt, took place in Seoul today with academics who put their heads together to explain the success of BTS and K-pop: bit.ly/2rs7IuK
