TÜRKİYE’DE K-POP KARŞITI SÖYLEM ve K-POP HAYRANLARININ TAKTİKSEL MÜCADELESİ

This study examines the discursive mechanisms of both the anti-Korean Wave and anti-K-pop in Turkey, disseminated through media and Twitter-sphere under the #banKpop. This study shows that in traditional media texts, the moral panic against K-pop is constructed through the discursive mechanisms of scapegoating, creating fear, stigmatizing, and labeling. Three discursive sub-themes create anti-K-pop discourse within the traditional media texts: K-pop as an epidemic, a threat against hegemonic masculinity, and as a new religion. In addition, the result of a hashtag campaign that feeds the anti-K-pop discourse produced in traditional media texts is discussed. These tweets collected by Nvivo 12 under the #banKpop from June 17 to 21, 2020 have been analyzed via thematic content analysis. The analysis shows that the anti-K-pop discourse is based on cultural essentialism, a homogenizing approach to Islam, homophobia, and transphobia. This research also finds out that trolling the #banKpop campaign by K-pop fans is a successful example of K-pop activism in Turkey.