Being a fan might look different depending on where you live, but the love? That’s universal.
From the bustling streets of Tehran to the global stages of Seoul, Kpop truly knows no borders. For some, it’s just a fun obsession, but for others, it could be a lifeline in a world full of restrictions and challenges. In this Kpopping fan interview done last May, we chat with Anita, a young and passionate Kpop fan from Iran. We discussed her love for Korean music, how she navigates the fandom life in such a restrictive environment, and what it means to support her idols from afar.
Let’s start with the basics!
Q: Hi there! Could you introduce yourself?
Please tell us your name, where you’re from, and maybe even a fun/quirky fact or two about yourself.
Anita: Hi! My name is Anita. I’m 16 years old, and I’m in 10th grade. I’m a Persian — I live in Tehran, which is the capital of Iran. So, one fun fact about me is that I took Programming as a major in high school because, here in Iran, we are required to choose vocational/technical tracks.
Tehran to Seoul: Tell us everything!
Q: So… you live in Iran, but your heart clearly beats Kpop. How did that even happen?
Please walk us through your Kpop story. Which idols were your ‘gateway’ to Kpop? And give us your current favorite groups and biases — no pressure!
Anita: I’ve been a fan of Kpop for over six years now. I started getting into Kpop in 2019, with groups like ITZY and EXO, particularly with their song “Ko Ko Bop.” I also like a lot of underrated groups, and I consider them “gems.” In 2020, I liked this girl group called ANS. They disbanded that same year, though. I also liked this third-generation group called BAE173. In 2023, I purchased my first Stray Kids album. In 2024, I got interested in SHINee. I changed! Everything changed for me — I love ballads now! I love their vocals! Like, after SHINee, my whole stan list just changed, and now my bias is Onew.
Fandom life and merch game with a twist
Q: With international sanctions and restrictions in place, how do you support your favorite idols?
Supporting your faves must be a whole different game in Iran. How do you manage things like buying albums, merch, or even streaming content? What difficulties have you faced, and how do you get around it?
Anita: It’s kinda hard. We don’t have Kpop stores here. We also can’t have albums shipped directly and legally to Iran. So, we usually buy online from Twitter shops or ask our mutuals to buy for us. But if we buy online, there’s also the risk of getting scammed. A lot of fans get scammed here, and albums often get lost along the way. But recently, I bought an Onew album. Also, these albums can be very expensive in our local currency; some albums may cost as much as half a million in our local currency.
Due to government restrictions, we need to use VPN to access websites here, and it’s usually not for free. We need to become VIPs in these VPN apps so we can access the sites. So, what we usually do is we listen to songs on Telegram. Every Kpop fan uses Telegram here. No Spotify or YouTube. But it’s so cool since the music quality there is also good!
Local fan connections and fangirling in public
Q: Do fans organize any events, such as cup sleeve celebrations, dance covers, or listening parties? And I’m just curious… if you blast a BTS track loud enough in Tehran, what would happen?
We’ve heard Iranian fans meet through social media and organize small events. And if Kpop songs were played in public, would it turn heads… or cause you trouble?
Anita: It will surely cause trouble! But sometimes, fans would watch online concerts or live streams together. Some would also gather to quietly celebrate their idols’ comeback, dancing and singing together. A few years ago, there were some planned Kpop events here in my country, but they were canceled due to government issues. In school, there’s a girl from the same class who likes aespa, but I’m quite an introvert, so I wasn’t able to talk to her that much. I also know some Stray Kids fans here.
The Fangirl Magic
Q: What’s your absolute favorite thing about being a Kpop fangirl?
Is it the music, the fashion and aesthetics, the community, or just the whole vibe?
Anita: I love how I get to see the personalities of Kpop idols, especially on variety shows. Some idols are just so funny! I also enjoy checking out the lyrics to their songs. Do you know the color-coded lyrics site? I like reading translations of Kpop songs, and the meanings behind these songs are so good! Listening to Kpop just always makes my day. You know how people say, “Why do you like Kpop? You don’t even understand them!” But there are literally websites that translate their songs, so they can’t say that ‘we don’t understand.’ Whenever I meet new people, I am always proud to say that I love Kpop!
Favorite fangirl memories
Q: Do you have a core memory as a Kpop fan that still makes your heart race?
Share your best or most chaotic fangirl moment!
Anita: You know how some idols are active on social media and Weverse? There were a few times when I received a reply from my favorite idols, especially on Twitter. Also, some international fans who are traveling to Korea to attend concerts or events often gather messages from fans who are unable to go, so in a way, we can relay our messages to the members through them.
#Manifesting: your dream Kpop moments
Q: If you could go to any concert, meet any idol, or even send one message to your bias, what would you say or do?
No limits! Dream big —we’ll imagine it with you!Anita: I really want to experience attending a Kpop event, especially concerts! I want to hear them live, especially with older groups. There’s something really special about the older groups, you know. Like, their songs are really ‘classic’ for me!
For Anita, being a fan is more than just enjoying the music — it’s a form of resistance, community, and hope in a place where joy can be quite hard to find. Just like her, many other fangirls are proving that even with so many restrictions, fandoms can still thrive… and that’s the true magic of Kpop. Whether it’s blasting music in secret or connecting with fellow fans online, the love for Kpop truly knows no boundaries.
Her story is also a testament to the unwavering dedication and passion that is common to Kpop fans. Despite the challenges, her love for Kpop has become a source of hope and joy in her life.
After hearing the news of Israel-Iran conflict, we immediately checked up on Anita last June 15, and she mentioned that her family was fine at the time. However, we haven’t heard from her since then. We sincerely hope and pray that Anita is somewhere safe with her family during these difficult times.
