With bands like BTS, BlackPink, Monsta X, and more entering into mainstream Western media - it’s hard not to notice how influential Kpop has become. What used to be a niche music genre has now landed songs on billboards globally. Kpop groups have now soared in popularity, so it only makes sense to ask ourselves… how? Since we didn’t know the answer, we brought on our fellow friend and Kpop enthusiast, Isabella, and asked her all the pressing questions we had about the appeal and lifestyle of Kpop!

Background Info

Isabella’s ultimate bias group (her main interest) is Monsta X, a Kpop boyband comprised of 6 members. She also has been following SHINee, Seventeen, and GOT7. Most recently, she has traveled to 7 different US cities to join Monsta X’s U.S. tour.

What is a “bias?”

According to Isabella, Bias is like… a loose translation of your favorite person within a group. You can have a bias for many reasons - you like the way they sing, personality, etc. You can have more than one bias, but other people say you should only have one, hence bias. There are also such things as “ultimate bias” so if you have multiple biases, your ultimate bias is the one you prioritize.

What is a Sasaeng fan?

Sasaeng fans are crazy fans that don’t observe boundaries. People seem to have a sliding scale of what they deem as a Sasaeng. For example, if you camp out for a concert, some people think its too much - some people think it’s okay. Typically if you start following them around, that’s overboard.

Listen to the full episode to get the full details on everything we’ve talked about and Isabella’s adventures!