Global K-pop fans unite forces at Kpop4Planet for climate action

Several K-pop fans conscious of climate change and its impending crisis have taken initiatives and launched Kpop4Planet, a website where followers of different K-pop artists and fanclubs can learn about eco-friendly daily practices together. Courtesy of Kpop4Planet

By Ko Dong-hwan

Imagine what could be done if the approximately 100 million K-pop fans worldwide acted together under a common purpose. Imagine if that purpose was keeping the earth environmentally clean and safe with daily eco-friendly practices and supporting stars who publicly promote climate action.

That was what organizers of the new website Kpop4Planet had in mind.

The fan-driven climate action platform was launched on Mar. 3, eight months before the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) is scheduled to take place in Scotland's Glasgow.

Kpop4Planet's head organizer Nurul Sarifah launched the site so it could become a platform for K-pop fans to gather and learn about the climate crisis and take action with other like-minded fans. The site will also harness K-pop's unique crowd-driven activism to persuade businesses and governments to take climate action.

"Climate change is the crisis of our generation," said Sarifah. "With K-pop fans mostly consisting of Generation Z (those born between mid-1990s and early 2010s) and millennials, we are the ones who will be most severely affected by decisions taken or not taken today. Fighting for climate justice means fighting for our future."

The site features artists engaging in action against climate change as inspiration for visitors, including BLACKPINK, who in February called for action as the official advocates for COP26, and Red Velvet, who in August 2020 called for clean air as an ambassador of the UN International Day of Clean Air for blue skies. The honor roll also includes Paul Kim, Park Ji-hoon, Eric Nam, Minzy and VIXX who either donated to the cause or raised awareness in real-time online discussions.

Red Velvet members released a video campaigning for clean air in September 2020 as the ambassadors of the UN International Day of Clean Air for blue skies. Screen capture from YouTube

Some fans had already carried out high-profile climate actions as tribute to their favorite stars. Indonesian K-pop fans made a hashtag trend on Twitter against a Korean company that allegedly burned 57 thousand hectares of forest in Papua. Boyband Seventeen's fanclub Carats fundraised $6,300 from more than 400 donors to help restore forests affected by wildfires in Korea's Gangwon Province. Boyband EXO's fanclub EXO-Ls, BLACKPINK's Blinks and BTS' Army donated money to help victims of floods and typhoons in Thailand and India in 2019, the Philippines in 2020, and Indonesia earlier this year. Other fans also took part in fundraising to help plant trees in Korea, Indonesia and China in honor of their favorite celebrities.

Protecting wildlife is another purpose of Kpop4Planet, which is why it was launched on World Wildlife Day. The cause is shared by Army and fans of Monsta X and Wonho who left the band to debut as a solo artist.

As of 2019, there are about 1,800 fanclubs for K-culture in almost 100 countries, according to data from Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"We hope more people join the fight to enjoy K-pop on a liveable planet," Sarifah said.

Kim Na-yeon, a NCT DREAM fan who is also a member of Korean youth climate action group Youth 4 Climate Action and the organizer of Kpop4Planet Korea, said many of her group's members are K-pop fans as well.

"Even if there is no direct benefit to us, we are ready to actively engage in campaigns for a positive image of K-pop artists," Kim said. "So I believe that if K-pop fandoms speak out properly about the climate crisis, we will make a huge difference."

Super Junior's fanclub ELF's Indonesian group member Arendeelle said her fanclub will help and join the upcoming movement from Kpop4Planet alongside other fanbases and fandoms.

"I know it's never too late. Let's use our voices! Spread awareness, donate, learn more, support environmental campaigns, and try to make a difference," a member of Blink Philippines who goes by the nickname Jazz said. "Every day, there's at least one person whose eyes are being awakened by what's happening in our world. There's a lot at stake, so we should act now. Together, let's save our future!"

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