In the early beginnings of the Hallyu wave, K-Pop idols were not allowed to have public social media profiles where they could interact with fans. Instead, idols were able to interact in “fancafes.” Fancafes are essentially message boards or forums where fans are able to make accounts to interact with their favorites. In recent years, different types of fancafes have emerged in order to better suit the needs of growing fanbases.

What You Find on the Cafes

The type of content you find on a fancafe varies from group to group; however, each cafe has the same basic features.

Calendar

This is where the artist’s schedule is posted, allowing fans to know where and when to watch their members perform or when other notable events are taking place. 

Announcements

This is where you find any important information the artist’s fan staff needs you to know. Things like cafe rules, blacklists, and special events can also appear here. 

Applications

Applications are normal on fancafes. The main two are level-up applications and pre-recording applications. 

Level-Up Application

The level-up application is essentially a way for members to “prove” they are actual fans of the artist. This is a safeguard to filter out what some might consider internet trolls. The application can range from super simple to borderline obnoxious. BTS and VIXX’s level-up applications were notorious for their difficulty. 

Fan Chatting

This is where fans can share content, bond, and interact with each other. This is often where events, fanart, and even cool collections can be located. Depending on the cafe, you may have to be a full leveled-up member of the cafe to access this section.

Letters

This is where you write notes to your favorite artist and they will write letters to fans. This is a section that is almost always restricted to full members of the fancafe. Be sure to read the rules of writing letters to members to avoid breaking any rules and being demoted in the fancafe. 

Fan Club Only Zone 

This is the section that is only accessible if you have purchased an artist’s official fanclub membership. Exclusive content is shared here for members who have paid for it. However, a big issue that has emerged is people sharing this content online, resulting in less and less “fan-only” content. It is never permitted to share content from this zone; however, many fans do anyway at the risk of the revocation of their membership.

Types of Fancafes

In the beginning, most groups used forum-based cafes; however, as technology has become accessible, now more than ever entertainment companies are creating their own platforms for fans and artists to interact.

Daum Cafe

Daum has been the standard for fancafes for a long time. Daum was already used as a blogging platform, so the transition made sense. Prior to 2019, it was difficult for international fans to use the platform as the app and the website were only in Korean (though it was possible to access the cafe using the Chrome translate feature). In 2019, the Daum app added an English language function, making it easier than before for fans to join from around the world. This came as a surprise to fans as Daum is a company that focuses on offering services to the Korean population. Daum cafes are set up like a message board, similar to online forums that include different spaces for fans to interact between themselves and the artist. Most things on the Daum cafe are only accessible after applying for a level-up successfully. 

SM Entertainment’s Lysn App

Launched in 2019, SM Entertainment moved their fancafe off the Daum platform over to the Lysn mobile app. This app functions like the Daum cafe app but only for SM Entertainment artists. It has parts that are free for fans to access; however, the “ACE” zones are where the fanclub exclusive content is posted and artist messages are often left. ACE zones are only accessible by fanclub membership purchase. Lately, artists have posted in the general fan area, allowing more people to interact with them. The most recent addition to the app has been the feature “Star Chat,” where artists are able to directly instant message fans. On March 12, EXO’s Chanyeol and EXO-Ls single-handedly crashed the app and the server due to his sharing of what he called “boyfriend” pictures.

VLIVE Fanship

In recent years, idol broadcasting platform VLIVE has added a cafe of its own. The fanship functions as an additional channel separate from an artist’s main channel that is only accessible by people who have purchased a fanship membership via the app. On the fanship channel, idols can go live and share content exclusively with those fans. However, fanship lives are not always reuploaded, so it makes it difficult for the unauthorized distribution of content. Idols will leave messages on the fanship board and sometimes will join the chatroom in order to interact with fans. 

BigHit Entertainment’s Weverse App

Weverse was developed and eventually launched by beNX, a technology-focused subsidiary of BigHit Entertainment. While it still contains the basic functions other cafes have, Weverse adds another layer called “moments.” This functions essentially as the stories function on Instagram. While only three groups use Weverse currently, BigHit has consistently teased that more groups are set to join the platform. Similar to VLIVE, Weverse allows users to access content in the language of their choice and the app itself functions in three different languages with plans for more in the future. 

Accessibility Issues Leading To Leaks

As K-Pop has spanned the globe, entertainment companies have struggled with meeting the demand for multi-language accessible platforms. This has created a culture where fans expect that people will share cafe content on social networking platforms, so they never bother purchasing fanclub memberships as they deem them “a waste of money,” since many benefits are only usable for fans who live in South Korea. Some companies are beginning to take notice and make changes: for example, BTS’s MAP OF THE SOUL concert offered fan presale to official ARMY members, adding a layer of stress (and cost) to the ticketing process for some fans. This change could indicate future companies and groups may implement similar requirements, meaning that fanclub memberships will become a necessary purchase for many. 

Whether you choose to participate in fancafes or prefer to look at leaks on social media, it is easy to see how fancafes continue to play a huge role in building the relationship between fans and their favorite artists.