‘She wanted to become Korean’: Why the K-obsession is worrying Indian parents

Ghaziabad suicides show the dangers of fandom turning into a fixation among vulnerable youngstersMumbai teen Kiara (name changed) recently got a Korean-style haircut, tattooed a K-pop lyric on her arm, and insisted on speaking only Korean at home. But when she told her Korean language teacher that she wanted to “become Korean” alarm bells started ringing at home.“She stopped eating Indian food, preferring tteokbokki and ramen. She spent her savings on K-beauty products, which led to skin problems. We feared she'd lose her cultural identity, so we had to intervene and take her for counselling,” Kiara’s mother says.Kiara is not the only tween swept by Hallyu, or the Korean wave. Whether it is TV soaps, mobile games or beauty products, the influence of South Korea's culture across India and the globe is undeniable. But this fascination for all things K took a tragic turn recently when three young Ghaziabad sisters ended their lives. Reports suggest their love for Korean soaps, games and culture had become obsessive. They had allegedly adopted Korean names—Maria, Aliza and Cindy—inspired by TV shows and had wanted to travel to Korea. The trio had been pulled out of school following the family’s financial constraints and spent their time watching K-content and posting on their social media channel. Just days before their suicide, the girls’ father had taken away their phone.The incident has triggered anxiety among parents. Psychologists and parenting experts say it is important for parents to recognise warning signs and engage with their children at the earliest. Clinical psychologist Dr Ruby Ahuja says that a child’s fascination with another country’s culture can take both healthy and unhealthy forms. “It’s ok for children to be curious and know about other cultures, but it becomes unhealthy when this interest begins to function as an escape. This escape, from academics and other day-to-day stressors, replaces real-life emotional growth, identity formation, and relationships,” she says.When Delhi student Misha (name changed on request) first heard a BTS song she was 10. She didn’t understand the lyrics but found the tune catchy and got hooked. Soon, she started exploring Korean music, shows, food and art too. Now 15, Misha admits she lives in a K-world. “I groove to K-pop, escape into Korean fanfics and live for kimchi and ramen. It's more than a trend – it’s my happy place,” she adds.Miaha's mom Seema, (name changed on request) doesn't know whether to treat her child’s Korean obsession as cool or concerning. “I feel it’s very exciting in a way that they are getting a global perspective, which we missed in our time. In our generation, knowledge was limited to geographical location and country flags, but today’s kids are exploring their culture, music, food and entertainment. But what worries me is that our kids are trying to be somebody they are not,” she says. She reveals that Misha tried a red hair colour — despite their reservations — and also writes Korean fan fiction revolving around meeting her favourite Korean music idols. “Misha wants a tattoo, too but we are avoiding it. Korean exposure has been a major part of her life currently, but as parents we are conservative about looks,” she says.Glass skin crazeExperts say one of the most problematic trends is the fascination with glass-like glowing skin. Girls as young as 10 are using BB creams, glow serums, rice packs, and sheet masks with the hope of glowing like the influencers they see on Pinterest and Instagram. Data by consumer research firm Datum Intelligence shows that currently, there are 11.9 million K-beauty buyers in India, a number expected to grow to over 27 million by 2030.Gurugram-based Radhika says her 12-year-old daughter wants to try every K-beauty product she sees online and forces her to buy them. “I don’t support her completely, but I am not against it either. It is okay to use skincare products, but in limits. I would like her to try Indian, age-appropriate products over K-beauty,” she says. “I am worried about her skin. I feel this is all because of peer pressure and comparisons among school friends,” she confesses.Meanwhile, Dr Ahuja reveals that a 15-year-old girl from Chandigarh was recently brought to her because she suffered from body dystrophic disorder and wanted to get her face correction done as she felt that her face was too big and fat. “She wanted a thin face and a perfect jawline. Every time she saw herself in the mirror, she would cry and force her parents to visit a cosmetologist and ask if something could be done. She would also go for hair straightening regularly.”The red flagsDriven by their fascination with fictional and musical worlds, kids are also flocking to classes to learn the Korean language. As per Duolingo, the world’s most downloaded education app, Korean ranked as the 6th most popular language studied globally. Interestingly, more than 65% learners of the Korean language are between the ages of 13-22. While this by itself is not concerning, experts say it is important for parents to keep an eye on their child’s obsessions and take action before they reach an unhealthy level.K-dramas like ‘Squid Game’, ‘Crash Landing on You’, ‘All of Us Are Dead’, as well as K-pop groups like BTS, Blackpink, Stray Kids, and Red Velvet, have become household names. Social media and streaming platforms fuel this obsession. Child psychologists say emotional over-investment snatches resilience because instead of learning to manage disappointment, conflict, or boredom, the child repeatedly escapes into a fantasy world for relief. “Korean entertainment content showcases romance, friendship, patriarchy and intertwined relationships similar to Indian dramas. Youngsters often see it as the ‘new cool’ and get influenced. This excessive obsession with Korean celebrities and online personas narrows the child’s world and weakens their ability to cope with frustration, academic challenges and relationships. It severely affects their sense of identity and roots as well,” says Dr Ruby.Strike a balanceWhen fascination turns into obsession, parents need to step in and create a healthy balance. Awareness, timely intervention and communication are key to solving this. Bhakti Joshi, a trauma-focused therapist at rehab centre Samarpan, says the potential risks of intense Korean fandom include identity diffusion, emotional overinvestment, escapism, and unrealistic relational expectations, impacting mental well-being and self-formation. “Parents should ideally teach children to see Korean culture as complex and lived, not just aesthetic or entertainment based. They should also encourage curiosity beyond idols and talk openly about the dangers of too much glamorisation,” she adds.However, parents often struggle to balance allowing their kids to explore interests and setting boundaries. Seema shares her approach to navigating her daughter's K-obsession. “When I noticed my daughter getting crazy about Korean fashion and art, I didn’t try to deprive her immediately or take away her gadgets. I didn’t want to turn her into a rebel. So, I took no extreme steps and tried to get involved and relate to her choices instead. I became her friend and enjoyed her choices – be it Korean music, movies or food, as I feel it’s a better escape than letting them loose. This is how I can set reasonable limits too,” she suggests.