17 signs that you’ve become a K-pop stan (again, against your better judgment) - A Kang Daniel noona confession

[Mees Madds]

The last time I was a K-pop fan was in the stone ages of K-pop, when Seo Taiji and H.O.T. were creating pandemonium among teenage girls and cassette tapes were still sold in stores (even though true fans shelled out for the CD, of course). Every time my father ripped the idol posters off my walls, it just fanned the flames of my rebellion even harder, and I was convinced that my fanlove would never die. Never!

But it did, of course, because I grew up and moved out, and was not compelled to take posters of my oppas with me to my college dorm room. Years later, when I returned to dramas after spending a good long chunk of my life away from them, I still never returned to K-pop fandom in the same way. I just didn’t know any of the groups by then, and learning them seemed like a daunting task. My playlists were mostly filled with drama OSTs, and I had probably encountered idols more as variety personas than as singers.

 

Then a strange thing happened recently. I became a K-pop fan again by accident, for reasons I’m not sure I understand. I was bored out of my mind and out of dramas to watch (the drama slump is real, my friends), and so I did what I always do when I can’t be bothered to start a new drama: watch a random episode of a variety show, because the mental engagement and commitment level are much lower. I started and stopped countless episodes, sat through entire pilots, and was feeling dissatisfied with everything I tried.

It was around that time that I had finished watching School 2017, and remembered that Kim Se-jung had gotten her start on the idol survival program Produce 101, so I idly picked it up and ended up breezing through the entire season. It was like brain candy, so naturally I watched the second season immediately afterward. Boy, was that a mistake.

The second season was all boys, so of course it was eye candy on top of brain candy, and you can see where this is going. I don’t know what happened, or how the show hoodwinked me into unleashing my inner teenage fangirl, but I am now exhibiting the classic, unmistakable signs of standom:

1. You spend every free moment on Youtube watching music videos, behind-the-scenes videos, and fan-made videos about the videos. You marvel at the sheer volume of them. Fandom was not like this when you were last a K-pop fan.
 

2. You’ve watched your idol’s portions of a reality survival program so many times you know exactly what minute of what episode to fast-forward to. And of course you know his lines by heart.
 

3. Your idol’s group name is some ridiculous form of Konglish that embarrasses you, but you tell yourself that it’s fine, because no one ever knew what the hell Fin Killing Liberty meant but it never stopped Hyori from becoming a superstar anyway.

 

4. You actually set out to buy a physical CD for a K-pop group, which you haven’t done since the 20th century.

 

5. You then learn that there are two different versions of the same goddamn album, which paralyzes you with indecision.
 

6. Then you discover that they each come with a random member featured on the sleeve, and this means you have a 1-in-11 shot of getting the version you actually want. It somehow feels like worse odds than the lottery, and the thought depresses you.

 

7. You watch every variety show appearance your idol has made, even if all he does is show up and eat. He makes the same jokes and does the same dance from show to show, but you laugh every time and clap in delight because he is the best thing since sliced bread. You’re convinced there will never be another star like him.
 

8. You make a mental note to apologize to your friends for mocking them about their obsession with Rain back in the day. You get it now.
 

9. You used to wonder why on earth K-pop fans took the time to individually film every single member’s version of the same performance separately. Who would watch this, you wondered. YOU, THAT’S WHO.

 

10. You watch commercials for things you will never buy, all because your idol is being paid boatloads of money to model it.
 

11. You’ve gone so deep into the Youtube catalogue that you’re now getting recommendations for clips of other celebrities who just mention your idol’s name.
 

12. For the first time in your entire life, you find watching idol bromance fanfic to be a worthwhile way to spend an afternoon. You admit this to no one.
 

13. You’re actually relieved that you don’t live in Korea, because then you’d be this lady:

 

 

 

14. You’re pretty sure you’ve gone insane, but then you remember that this feels vaguely familiar. You try not to dwell on this, or what it means about your addictive personality. You’re fairly certain K-pop is safer than drugs. Probably.
 

15. Your new favorite activity is watching videos dedicated to comparing your idol’s face to the puppies he resembles most.
 

16. You consider getting a puppy and naming it after your idol. You then remember that you have a cat and he would scratch your eye out if you brought home a dog. You try changing your cat’s name, but he’s not having any of that.
 

17. Then you learn that your idol raises cats and you die of cuteness overload.

 

Source

 

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She doesn't mention who it is but it's really obvious Kang Daniel is the guilty one

 

 

Just one of the many noonas who got dragged into kpop by him.

 

[PrazzyJazzy]

Akdhfkskjskd this is so accurate. Around the time I got bored of kpop, EXO debuted. I didn't understand why people liked them so much at the time. Now I'm obsessed.

[Mees Madds]

Akdhfkskjskd this is so accurate. Around the time I got bored of kpop, EXO debuted. I didn't understand why people liked them so much at the time. Now I'm obsessed.

These are so releatable for everyone

 

You watch every variety show appearance your idol has made, even if all he does is show up and eat. He makes the same jokes and does the same dance from show to show, but you laugh every time and clap in delight because he is the best thing since sliced bread. You’re convinced there will never be another star like him.

 

You used to wonder why on earth K-pop fans took the time to individually film every single member’s version of the same performance separately. Who would watch this, you wondered. YOU, THAT’S WHO.

[g u m]

a kang daniel akgae noona confession.

from Yoon jisung akgae

 

jk~ yeah, all of these are accurate!

[Primazaza]

I can totally relate to it. I was getting tired of kpop and decided to stop actively follow kpop groups at the only exception of FTISLAND (because I don't consider them as kpop and it's not tiring at all to stan them). I was more on variety show / drama since 2015. So naturally I watched PD101 s2 as I've watched s1 because for me its just entertaining, I don't get attached easily, I don't really get heartbroken and so I normally can watch a survival show and move on easily once the show ended. But Kang Daniel happened... He's really a trap and I spend several hours by day (and night) to watch all sort of Kang Daniel related stuff, I watch every show he goes on in korean then with engsub, I take time to stream songs on melon and youtube. I've surprised myself to watch cfs for the first time in my life... It's not sane and really tiring but I can't help it

[Hermione]

Kang Daniel is guilty. Lol. I've never fangirl over a kpop so hard. I don't even like them but produce 101 suddenly appeared on TVN channel in our home and I was trapped. Daniel didn't help because he just dragged me deeply into standom. What a dangerous man.

[chocopebble]

This would make a great poll XD 

 

15. Your new favorite activity is watching videos dedicated to comparing your idol’s face to the puppies he resembles most.

16. You consider getting a puppy and naming it after your idol. You then remember that you have a cat and he would scratch your eye out if you brought home a dog. You try changing your cat’s name, but he’s not having any of that.

17. Then you learn that your idol raises cats and you die of cuteness overload.

 

So cute ahaha

 

Daniel and puppy comparison videos

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqni05fZSFU

[Soko]

see, you cant quit Kpop, you think you will get older and forget but idols groups debut everyday and you will find yourself stanning them..

[idemandapeach]

This is so...real.
Although the last time I was a fangirl wasn't that long, it was still 6 years ago and I had zero intention to care about any idol ever again. Buying a physical album in this age and time just seemed like the most ridiculous thing to me. But I ended up paying extra to get my bias...
And all the things I have been criticizing and judging all these years, I'm now doing all of them. This is karma. 

[Dongminfan]

Why Kang Daniel? why everyone is so obsessed with him? could you enlight me please?

[taekoos]

Why Kang Daniel? why everyone is so obsessed with him? could you enlight me please?

Ok I'll try and be objective here and not seem like I'm trying to push King Daniel on anyone.

 

First he got attention on pann and stuff by being super sweet with a younger contestant on P101. He cuddled and babied him, talked about how cute he was, and that part of his personality made people melt. He seemed like the sweet caring older brother type.

 

 

That got people talking about him a bit. And then the Sorry Sorry performance happened and people saw how charismatic and sexy he is on stage.

 

 

His fancam kinda went viral in Korea and after that he kept shooting to the top. People really liked his cute friendly vibe offstage and how charismatic he is onstage. It's like the whole package? It's why older women love him, he seems like a sweet and dependable guy who also has massive sex appeal.

[Mees Madds]

Why Kang Daniel? why everyone is so obsessed with him? could you enlight me please?

I don't know what to tell you. How do you explain someone's appeal in words? The easiest way would be to direct you to watch Produce 101 but I know you're not interested in that.

He's just...he's a very masculine but innocent and cute guy. He has a positive attitude even when facing tough times. For his fans, if we watch a video of him, any video, we know he'll be able to brighten our day because he's always warm and smiley off stage. And on stage he's a true professional. He has taken his job as center very seriously and you won't see him looking tired, won't see him taking it easy with the choreo, won't feel like he wants to be anywhere else but there on stage, showing his talent and entertaining. He has the mentality that an idol should be able to do everything, singing, rapping, dancing, entertaining and you can see he is working on becoming that complete idol.

Hs has the advantage of the survival show. Because he didn't start popular in the show. He was at the bottom for studio audience voting 2 times and that failure always gives fans the hunger to help their idol rise. And that's what Daniel's fans did. They promoted the hell out of him and because he is obviously great on stage, his fancams brought more and more fans. From there, his popularity built on itself because he is an appealing person.

[Dongminfan]

^ aww really thank you both very much, i'll look more for him now^^

[mrs.otter]

This is so...real.

Although the last time I was a fangirl wasn't that long, it was still 6 years ago and I had zero intention to care about any idol ever again. Buying a physical album in this age and time just seemed like the most ridiculous thing to me. But I ended up paying extra to get my bias...

And all the things I have been criticizing and judging all these years, I'm now doing all of them. This is karma. 

Your dp

[bkkbbk]

Well, the start is different but its end all the same...

I bought wanna one album after like 5 years of not buying, and even save money for their fanmeet when usually I'm just too lazy to go to that kind of event.

I watch his video everyday now....

[Star light]

Daniel is dangerous. I was just gonna watch pd101 S2 w/o having any faves until later on but I didn't even make it passed the Nayana performance on MCD before the show even started. That pink hair and his charisma dragged me into his fandom

[idemandapeach]

Your dp

 

One of the things I do as a fangirl now. Delulu shipping. 

[mrs.otter]

One of the things I do as a fangirl now. Delulu shipping. 

I can relate

[Arclowz]

Daniel is the first male idol I truly stan.

 

I used to only follow TWICE, I.O.I, and Lovelyz (boy groups did nothing to me) but Daniel's charm is just... irresistible.

 

Then Ong came and blew my mind. 

 

One of the things I do as a fangirl now. Delulu shipping. 

 

Same! Except I'm delulu to the point of not accepting the fact that I'm delulu. Ongniel is real! 

[yunhae_yunhae]

7. You watch every variety show appearance your idol has made, even if all he does is show up and eat. He makes the same jokes and does the same dance from show to show, but you laugh every time and clap in delight because he is the best thing since sliced bread. You’re convinced there will never be another star like him.

 

ME LMAO