Fanwar

Synonyms:
See also:	Ship War, K-Pop, Black Ocean
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A fanwar is a heated argument or conflict between two or more fandoms. It is especially common in K-Pop. These wars often occur on social media platforms like Twitter, where fans from different fandoms engage in aggressive debates and fights to defend their favorite idols or groups. In some cases, can involve physical violence.

Fanwars in K-Pop typically involve:

• Arguments about which group or idol is superior in terms of popularity, talent, achievements, etc.
• Insulting or attacking the idols or fandoms of the opposing side
• Spreading rumors or misinformation to undermine the reputation of rival groups
• Attempting to prove the superiority of one's own fandom through streaming, voting, and other forms of support
• In extreme cases, sending death threats or attempting to "dox" (reveal personal information) other fans or idols

"Fandom wars" can also refer to inter-fandom conflicts, sometimes called wank or discourse.

History

Star Wars vs. Star Trek could be considered an early example of a fanwar. These two franchises had long-standing rivalry, often involving passionate debates about which franchise is superior in terms of storytelling, worldbuilding, scientific accuracy, and cultural impact.

However, the term 'fanwar' is more common in K-Pop fandom. In the late 1990s, during the first generation, fanwars often manifested as physical fights and confrontations between rival fandoms. One of the most infamous examples was between fans of H.O.T and Sechskies, which sometimes escalated to the point of requiring police intervention. These fights were re-enacted in the K-Drama Reply 1997.

According to Sechskies member Jaeduck:

This fan came over to me and said, ‘Oppa, I fought three H.O.T fans and I won.’ This may seem a bit graphic but I think she was bleeding. I remember telling her she did a good job nonetheless. I felt a great sense of pride back then.

In the 2000s, fanwars are primarily fought through social media, often on K-Pop Stan Twitter. One of the most infamous is between fans of BTS (known as ARMYs) and fans of EXO (known as EXO-Ls). Some others include Twice fans (known as ONCE) and Girls' Generation (known as SONE). Twice was criticised by SONES as being a 'cheap copy' of Girls' Generation, having a similar concept and large group of members.

Examples

• Star Wars vs. Star Trek
• ARMY vs EXO-L (BTS fans and EXO fans respectively)
• B.A.P vs EXO

Further Reading

• Phenomenon of Fandom War in K-Pop Community on Social Media by ldy Marcelino Letwory and Lambok Hermanto Sihombing