Abstract:
The purpose of this research is to study 1) common and specific characteristics of Korean singers which influence Thai fan clubs, 2) influences of Korean singers in enhancing Korean Wave among Thai fan clubs , and 3) fan clubs demographic characteristics and group influence over individual fan clubs Korean Wave exposure and craziness. In- depth interview with 2 major groups: 10 related- organization representatives and 45 Thai fan clubs, is conducted in this research, together with documentary research and participant observation. The findings show that 1) there are 6 common characteristics possessed by Korean singers: team-work emphasis, adaptation to target-audience culture, better look by surgery, high responsibility on needed roles assigned by their music companies, being an entertainer, and reflection of combination between Korean traditional culture and pop-culture . Also, there are 2 specific characteristics: being a personal media with distinguished characters designed by each music company and performing differentiated concepts of each band and musical style. The mentioned common and specific characteristics are affected by two major factors: each music companys production and Korean governmental support. 2) Korean singers induce Korean wave to both Thai entertainment circle as a whole and to teenage fan clubs by bringing in imitation in Korean physical appearances and apparel, eating taste, and tourism, including their verbal and nonverbal expression. Such Korean wave is influenced by internal factors, i.e. a singers own competence, cultural adaptation etc, and by external factors, i.e. integrated and various kinds of media and channels planning, besides on-stage performance, to intensify traditional Korean culture and K-pop culture. 3) Most fan clubs are 11-29 years old and there are more females than males. Formation of each Korean fan-club brings about information exchange, group communication, and group culture through certain symbols, such as colors, group-names, and communication network for common activities.