By: Jade Veronique V. Yap

For this young K-pop fan, Jaemin of the K-pop group NCT Dream served as her emotional support system during tough times. 

"Jaemin is the person who has given me emotional support during the time I needed the most. He was the person I met when I [was] at my lowest," 17-year-old K-pop fan Tien said in an interview with the Science Estate. 

She described Jaemin as someone who brings 'comfort to her like home' through his simple words of affirmation, his comforting lines in their songs, and his smiles. 

Meanwhile, 15-year-old K-pop fan Alexa said that Beomgyu of TXT has helped him cope with the stress of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

She explained that she always looks forward to the idol's posts and live streams because his words alone bring comfort to her. 

The Psychology Behind Emotional Support 
Feeling a strong attachment or drawing emotional support to an idol is shared in a K-pop fandom. 

These artists, dubbed "emotional support K-pop boys" by most K-pop fans, inspire and reassure fans through their songs, live streaming, and personalities, motivating fans and providing comfort through difficult moments.

According to psychologist Monica Tuason, emotional support expresses care and concern for another person, especially in stress and difficulties.

She stressed that having emotional support helps nurture one's emotional well-being as it is a protective factor for dealing with life's challenges. 

"[Those] who receive emotional support tend to be happier, healthier, and [can] cope with problems and troubles in life," Tuason added. 

K-pop boys as emotional support  [NAKABOLD] 

Getting emotional support from an idol isn't unusual in K-pop fandom.

Tuason believed this is a healthy coping mechanism as it is significantly predicted to increase psychosocial outcomes like happiness, self-esteem, and social connectedness. 

"Kasi kapag naging fan ka, minsan may tendency din mag interact with other people, other fans, you share joys as you watch your idols diba, and one explanation for this is that the kpop they provide the fans with a sense of belongingness in online kpop community groups no may sense of accessibility and connectedness because of the idols," she said.

However, this coping mechanism could be unhealthy if fans isolate and disconnect themselves from actual reality. 

"It gets unhealthy when the person would prefer to live in the fans' world than the actual world and tends to isolate [themselves] kasi mas gusto niyang dun nalang sa idol niya kumuha rather than connect with real people around him or her," she said. 

Tuason reminded K-pop fans that while it is okay to get emotional support from K-pop idols, it is also healthy to reach out to real people, to provide emotional support.