Tweets by Thai fans of the South Korean boyband BTS, or Bangtan Sonyeondan, over "happy birthday" signs for their idols on the back of tuk-tuks, instead of at mass transit stations, have gone viral.
The K-pop fan movement encourages their members not to field the birthday adverts on the skytrain as well as at MRT stations, as a gesture of protest against the operators that temporarily shut down services during the pro-democracy protests last month.
Korean Wave, or Hallyu, has had a strong influence in Thailand since the early 2000s, through the popularity of K-drama and K-pop that spread globally in the age of the internet and social media. Thai fans have adopted the way Korean fans shower their idols with support using signs or billboards to mark the stars' important dates, such as their birthdays and the day they made a debut.
The "happy birthday" signs for two BTS band members Kim Seok-jin, known by his stage name Jin, and Kim Tae-hyung, known by his stage name V, are to be displayed on the back of 15 tuk-tuks running in Bangkok's Pathumwan commercial district throughout December.
The adverts on tuk-tuks are to help generate income for the drivers, who have been hit the hardest by the fall in tourism following the coronavirus lockdown.
The past couple of weeks also saw several empty walls at Asok and Phaholyothin MRT, known to be the most crowded metro stations. The K-pop fans sarcastically commented over the loss of advert income for mass transit operators as they turn to tuk-tuks.
This is one of many occasions that Thai K-pop fans have shown their prowess and influence in Thai society. In October, the K-pop fans -- including supporters of BTS, Blackpink, Super Junior and EXO -- raised more than four million baht in three days to support the pro-democracy youth movement.
Much more has been raised since then, as many K-pop fans are known for having high purchasing power (since they can buy concert tickets, albums and merchandise). Some fans also donated money for the purchase of protective gear such as masks and helmets for protesters.
Those on the outside looking in may look at the Korean wave phenomenon simply as fans chasing after celebrities. But I can assure you that would be a mistake.
Thai K-pop FC members have established both online and physical communities in which they support each other and exchange ideas on a wide variety of subjects -- including Thailand's political dilemma -- beyond the matter of individual idols, drama series and music. Having been exposed to multicultural experiences through social media, they build up a sense of trust among themselves, creating safe spaces among members.
This in contrast to the current stage of Thailand whereby trust is declining among society members due to a generation gap and a deep political divide.
Some young K-pop friends of mine told me they couldn't express their ideas while at home or at workplaces because their parents or elder colleagues would rebuke them over a range of subjects like life choices, the meaning of success, working processes and politics. They found that it's better to keep ideas to themselves because in Thailand we are under a strong hierarchical system with seniority rooted in every social unit, from family and workplaces to various organisations.
Arguments with elders on a particular subject could land the younger ones in trouble. They risk strained relationships with family members or co-workers, which could be reflected in their work performance appraisal. In the end, the younger ones are forced to shut up in front of their elders, and so trust shatters.
The K-pop clique is their comfort zone as the members' relationships are more horizontal and open. It becomes somewhere they belong, where they feel comfortable enough to share their identity and voices.
For example, among a group of BTS fans known as "A.R.M.Y" (Adorable Representative MC for Youth) which I came across, the drawbacks of Thai dictatorship are openly discussed within their social media groups. Their support for the protest movement reflects the frustrations toward the top-down government that uses excessive power to intimidate and arrest political dissidents.
Moreover, it's also the political context of South Korea that many K-pop fans admire and look forward to -- a democratic state with a booming economy even though the power of chaebol and corruption still remain unsolved issues.
As K-pop fans emerged as important supporters of the Thai pro-democracy movement, I think we should learn from them and accept that our society is in need of free spaces and horizontal relationships to help us exit from this current political dilemma.
Those allegations that someone is pulling the strings behind these young people, or that they cannot think for themselves but act at the order of some mastermind far away are nonsense. These young people, including K-pop fans, want self-determination and to make their own political choices, all while dreaming of a free society.