7 Ways Your Parents React To K-Pop

Being an international K-pop fan has its ups and downs and sometimes your parents won’t make your life any easier. If you’ve ever tried to explain to them your love for Korean music and culture, some of the following situations will definitely look familiar.

1. Total indifference

They can be extremely unaffected by your new addiction, especially if you are one of those people who gets obsessed with new things all the time. Don’t give up! Soon they will realize that this is more than just “a little crush”!

2. So what’s up with your Chinese boys?

How many times do you have to tell them that your favorites are NOT from China or Japan? A hundred, probably. Be patient, they’ll come around…eventually…

3. I KNOW GANGNAM STYLE!

This is not the way you imagined it would go, but somehow your parents figured out PSY is actually from Korea just like your biases. Now they are fairly convinced that you are the biggest “Gangnam Style” fan out there and they are even willing to dance with you when the song is on.

4. But they wear more make up than you!

If you are lucky enough to gather your parents in front of your computer to show them your favorite groups, there’s a high chance they will criticize them. Are they boys or girls? Why the makeup? The video is so weird!

Prepare yourself! It can be worse than your friends’ first reaction.
You can’t help but sit there like:

5. Your mom slowly becomes a fan

You saw it coming because people can’t ignore K-pop for too long, but it’s still funny to catch your mother humming one of your tunes. Teaching her the names of idols and helping her to find her biases can be even more entertaining.

6. OH I KNOW THEIR NAMES!

Let’s be real: they don’t. You might have told them a million times that it’s Jin and not Jim, but they are still lost in the sauce. Be more understanding and think back of the time when you couldn’t tell the members apart.

7. The proud mom moments

They might not show you, but they’re actually really proud of you. They realized that you are open to new cultures and became a part of a special community. They will eventually mention your love for K-pop to their friends and colleagues to show them how cool you are.

Unfortunately that won’t mean they are willing to pay for your concert ticket and merchandise, so it’s time to hit the jackpot, baby!

When she’s not studying or working, fanniberger spends her time obsessing over K-pop groups, binge watching dramas and variety shows, doing quizzes, or going to K-pop themed parties with friends. Say hi to her on Twitter!