Antis - Short for anti-fans, these are people who unite against idols or groups to criticise and demean them. Often this is to defend their own biases against competition or, as some suspect, to show a form of "tough love" to their idol.

Bias - A fan’s absolute favourite idol, whom they will fiercely support and keep track of no matter what content they produce. Fans pick one bias from each of their favourite groups and usually only have one bias at a time. (there one bias out of all the groups they may support is known as an Ult Bias)

Bias wrecker - An idol, often in the same group, who makes a fan question their devotion to their original bias.

Debut - The official “coming out” of an idol or group. It’s the first of everything from performing before an audience to releasing an album. The time at which a group debuts, indicates the K-pop generation they will be in.

Delulu - This term is short for delusional, and is often used to mock fans who believe they’ll date, marry, or befriend their favourite idol. The word can describe a fan who devotes an unhealthy amount of time and energy to an idol. The word has been somewhat reclaimed online and fans often affectionately refer to themselves as delulu.

Fan Fiction -  Creative content in the form of graphic novels, short stories, comic strips, memes, and other multimedia starring characters based on K-pop groups. The plots are invented by fans and can be used to express a wide range of storylines. Fan Fiction is often written to explore possible "romantic" pairings within the idol group whether the idol is homosexual or not. Recently this has led to a lot of discourse about the ethical nature of fan fiction

Fanservice -  When idols act in a specific way just to please fans. This can range from playing into a "bromance" within the group, acting cute in front of fans or referring to fans as their "girlfriends" or "wives". The ethicality of fan service has also been called into question recently as it often encourages unhealthy parasocial relationships between idols and fans and at times veers into the territory of "Queerbaiting".

Generation - a period defined by the year idol groups debuted. Generational grouping in K-pop is often made for the sake of comparison and differentiation between the changing trends of the genre. The exact dates for each generation are debated, but the generally accepted ranges are as follows:

• 1st Generation: 1996 – 2002

• 2nd Generation: 2003 – 2011

• 3rd Generation: 2012 – 2017

• 4th Generation: 2018 – 2022/early 2023

• 5th Generation: March 2023 – present

Lightstick - a portable light that fans can take to concert and kpop events to show their support for an idol. Each lightstick is unique in design, corresponding to a specific group or fandom.

[adjective] Line -  this refers to all members of the group that are known for a certain skill or characteristic e.g. Dance line, vocal line, ‘99 line

Netizen - A term for an internet citizen.

OTP - An acronym for “One True Pairing.” This is used to describe “soulmates,” romantic or not, who are often "shipped" by fans or netizens.

Sasaeng - Extreme fans who are considered obsessive, crazy, outrageous, or even dangerous. Many become stalkers of their biases and collect detailed personal information, break into private property, and/or send unsanitary gifts to idols and actors to get their attention.

Shipping - An abbreviation of the word “relationship,” that has come to mean either fans’ acceptance and support of a relationship or the desire for a real-life relationship to occur between two idols.

Trainee - The name for a wannabe star who is in the process of intensive singing, dancing, and acting instruction, media training, and image redesign.

Visual - The member of a K-pop group that fulfils the role of “best looking” and serves as the face of the group. Although opinions differ among fans, according to the industry producers, this idol is the most conventionally attractive.