They caught your eye, or maybe you have been friends forever.
You complimented their BT21 shimmy knit mascot keychain, and their eyes lit up, excited to tell you why they chose that exact charm and why they hold onto it every time they feel anxious. Maybe it was even the same charm they were holding when you asked them out.
Welcome to the K-pop world. Allow me to ease some of your confusion.
K-pop is not just a music genre for 90% of its fans. For some of us, it healed our inner child. For most, it's a community that allows us to be unapologetically our cringey, nerdy, or life-of-the-party selves.
If your partner likes a K-pop song every now and then, then that's cool. Your lesson today will probably be pretty short.
But if their workout playlist is an elite mix of their favourite groups, and their morning alarm hasn't changed since they heard that one exact song (p.s. mine is still With You, this one is just... personal) then one diary entry won't be enough.
The first thing you should know is that you'll never know every K-pop group, every solo artist, or every debut. Truth be told, even fans don't know them all. Instead, focus on the artists your partner genuinely adores. Those are the names that matter.
You might also notice that your partner has different biases. A bias is simply a fan’s favourite member in a group. One might be their bias because of their chaotic personality, another because of their unmatched fashion style, and another simply because they make them smile.
Then comes the bias wrecker. It doesn't mean your partner stopped loving their bias. A bias wrecker is simply the member who keeps making them question their loyalty every other week. Consider it a friendly rivalry.
Your partner might suddenly decide to watch an entire K-drama simply because one of their favourite idols is acting in it. And yes, K-pop idols don't only sing and dance. Many of them act, compose music, produce albums, paint, design clothes, host shows, or pursue other hobbies they're pretty good at.
You might find your partner giggling at their phone, laughing for no apparent reason, or wondering why their screen time suddenly doubled. Don't worry. Their favourite group probably announced a comeback, went live, released behind-the-scenes content, or became ambassadors for another brand.
Your partner might suddenly develop an interest in a completely unexpected sport. Shout out to Jackson Wang, because it looks like I'll be adding fencing to my list of hobbies now.
And don't be surprised if they become a little too joyful, or turn into a PI, because one of their favourite idols shows up representing a brand they already love. Yes, of course I'm talking about Felix being the special guest at the opening of Ferrari's very first Casa Ferrari in South Korea.
While we're here, let me introduce you to a few words you'll probably hear almost every day.
You've already learned what a bias is.
You'll also hear the word maknae, which simply means the youngest member of a group.
Another word you'll hear often is comeback. Despite the name, it doesn't mean the group disappeared. A comeback simply refers to a new album, single, or promotional era.
Then there's hiatus. This one might explain why your partner suddenly seems a little more nostalgic than usual. A hiatus is a temporary break from activities, usually for health, rest, military service, or personal reasons. It's often the healthiest decision for the artist, even if fans miss them terribly.
You might also be asking yourself why you never noticed this whole other side of your partner before complimenting that tiny BT21 keychain.
The answer is simple.
Many fans learned, through different interactions, that this hobby can't be shared with everyone. People still get mocked for lip-syncing, knowing Korean lyrics by heart, collecting albums, learning fan chants, or understanding every word of a Korean song even though it isn't their mother tongue.
Now, I admit that's not always the case. In 2026, most of us are much more vocal about our love for K-pop. You can probably spot a STAY (that's a Stray Kids fan) from miles away.
You might also notice that your partner goes to bed incredibly late or wakes up surprisingly early, especially if you live in a completely different time zone from South Korea. Most of the time, it's because their favourite group decided to go live. That live might last one minute... or four hours. It all depends on how talkative they feel that day, or whether they simply wanted to show fans a beautiful sunset on their way home.
Sometimes you'll even find your partner leaving a livestream open on their laptop without really watching it for hours. Chances are, it's an airport livestream. Members of the press set up their cameras before a group's arrival or departure to ask how they are feeling, where they're travelling, why they're flying, who they're wearing, how their trip went, and whether fans can spot a tiny spoiler for what's coming next.
We are, admittedly, a little too gullible when it comes to finding hidden clues.
This is only the introduction to the series.
Over the next few diary entries, I'll be holding your hand and guiding you through one of your partner's most valued hobbies in a healthy, respectful, and hopefully entertaining way.
One thing I'd like to leave you with today is this.
Whether you're interested in K-pop or not, your partner is.
Be supportive. Show empathy. Stay curious. Ask questions. Let your partner tell you why that little BT21 shimmy knit mascot keychain means so much, why they stayed awake until three in the morning for a livestream, or why they're suddenly smiling because they have a theory.
You don't have to become a K-pop fan.
You just have to care about the person who is.