Social Empathy and The Korean Wave: Building Transnational Empathy through K-Pop Fandom
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This paper explores the role of K-pop fandom in cultivating transnational social empathy, particularly focusing on Japanese university students. Drawing from the theoretical framework of social empathy as proposed by Elizabeth Segal, the paper analyzes how cultural consumption―especially of Korean pop culture―can transcend national boundaries, challenge ethnocentric media narratives, and enable deeper contextual and macro-level understanding of international relations. Based on qualitative interviews with 16 Japanese K-pop fans, the study reveals how participants not only formed emotional attachments to Korean idols but also developed contextual and balanced understandings of Korea–Japan historical tensions. The findings underscore the potential of pop culture as a catalyst for fostering social empathy among groups with tensions in the global community.
Abstract
This paper explores the role of K-pop fandom in cultivating transnational social empathy, particularly focusing on Japanese university students. Drawing from the theoretical framework of social empathy as proposed by Elizabeth Segal, the paper analyzes how cultural consumption―especially of Korean pop culture―can transcend national boundaries, challenge ethnocentric media narratives, and enable deeper contextual and macro-level understanding of international relations. Based on qualitative interviews with 16 Japanese K-pop fans, the study reveals how participants not only formed emotional attachments to Korean idols but also developed contextual and balanced understandings of Korea–Japan historical tensions. The findings underscore the potential of pop culture as a catalyst for fostering social empathy among groups with tensions in the global community.