Korea as a New Religion: The Paradox of Fanaticism and Sacred Idol Devotion

Abstract

This article examines Hallyu culture as a form of cultural religiosity by analysing the paradox of emotional fanaticism and the formation of alternative spaces of meaning among Indonesian youth. The urgency of this study lies in the increasing tendency of fandom practices to exceed entertainment consumption and function as symbolic, affective, and quasi-sacred spaces within digital life. The study employed a mixed-methods design with a sequential explanatory approach. Primary data were obtained from questionnaires distributed to 50 Hallyu fans in Medan aged 16–30 and in-depth interviews with 10 selected informants. Secondary data were drawn from literature, previous studies, and supporting digital documents related to Hallyu fandom. Data were collected through Likert-scale questionnaires, interviews, and documentation. Quantitative data were analysed using SEM-PLS with SmartPLS, while qualitative data were analysed through the Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña interactive model. Data validity was strengthened through construct validity, reliability testing, and source and method triangulation. The findings show that material and social sacrifices exert the strongest significant effect on the alternative space of meaning, followed by emotional fanaticism, while ritual commitment is not statistically significant. The discussion indicates that Hallyu fandom operates as a negotiated sacred space where idols, merchandise, and digital practices acquire symbolic value resembling contemporary religiosity. The study concludes that Hallyu is not merely popular culture, but an alternative arena of meaning production, collective attachment, and post-religious affect in the digital era. These findings enrich communication and cultural studies by showing fandom mediates spirituality, solidarity, identity, and belonging beyond formal institutions today