Abstract
This article examines the possibility of fandom as a transnational political actor by analyzing the two cases of BTS fandom ARMY’s fan activism on a global scale with political orientation. The first case is fan activism related to the BLM movements. The second case is the One-In-An-ARMY platform, a consistent grass-root charity project that deals with various human rights issues. Analyzing two ARMY fan activism cases revealed that fandom could effectively mobilize its members to achieve a goal. Social media and identity among fandom have played key roles in organizing political fan activism. The transnational fandom members have actively discussed global issues without time-space limits by using social media effectively. The ARMY fan activism reflects the present characteristic of political participation, which blurs the line between politics and culture and beyond borderlines.
Publisher
Doğu Asya Araştırmaları Dergisi
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