Paradoxical intimacy between virtual idols and fans in South Korea: A case study of PLAVE and PLLI

Hanha Park, Eunhye Chung, Jane Seo, Department of Content Convergence, Ewha Womans University, South Korea, Department of Humancontents, Mokpo National University, South Korea

Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies

Published online on April 25, 2026

Abstract

Convergence, Ahead of Print.
This study explores the characteristics of PLLI, the fandom of the Korean virtual idol group PLAVE, through an interpretivist lens. Rooted in ethnographic fieldwork, this study examines the rapid emergence of large virtual idol fandoms in Korea between ...