‘Your sexual orientation based on your bias’: Queerness as a new default in online K-pop fan communities

Emerging literature on K-pop underscores that many international fans perceive their engagement with this cultural phenomenon as a subversive practice and a means of identity formation. Consequently, members of the LGBTQ+ community often find a sense of belonging in these fandoms that actively challenge societal norms. An analysis of K-pop content on TikTok reveals a specific trend in which queerness is frequently assumed as the default orientation for all fans, exemplified by the popular TikTok trend ‘[y]our sexual orientation based on your bias’. While primarily intended for entertainment, the volume of such videos raises questions about the complex relationship between sexual orientation and fandom affiliation. The study analysed 35 popular TikTok videos and 350 top comments using MAXQDA software to identify key themes. While K-pop fans largely embrace a spectrum view of orientation, this article also addresses concerns about queerbaiting and the insinuation that heterosexuality is incompatible with being a genuine K-pop fan. Additionally, it examines the trend’s paradoxes, such as reinforcing stereotypes while challenging others, and the superficial nature of some engagements within the discourse on K-pop fandom and sexual orientation representation.