Korean Wave's Dark Side: Teen Tragedies Spark Debate on Fandom's Grip on Indian Youth

• Deaths of three teenage sisters in Ghaziabad, whose father cited their obsession with Korean pop culture and desire to move to South Korea, highlight the intense impact of Hallyu.
• In January 2024, three 13-year-old schoolgirls from Karur district, Tamil Nadu, attempted to travel to Seoul to meet BTS, possessing only Rs 14,000 and no travel documents.
• The Korean Wave (Hallyu) gained traction in India with Psy's "Gangnam Style" in 2012, accelerating with the smartphone boom, cheap data, and algorithmic content pushing.
• The pandemic further boosted K-drama and K-pop consumption, with shows like "Squid Game" and "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" becoming major cultural reference points in India.
• Korean pop culture has evolved from a niche fandom to mainstream youth culture in India, influencing fashion, beauty, food, and even leading to Indian artists joining K-pop groups like Blackswan.