SM Entertainment’s new K-pop group, Hearts2Hearts, has gone viral even more. Not only because it is the first largest girl group after Girls’ Generation, but Hearts2Hearts immediately gained massive attention due to Carmen, the only non-Korean member and first K-pop idol from Indonesia to debut under the big 3 companies.
Apparently, this immediate buzz has attracted heated arguments and debates in Korean online communities. But what happened? And why are Korean netizens so concerned about all the impressive support for Hearts2Hearts Carmen? Dive deeper into the debate with us.
Hearts2Hearts Carmen: First K-pop Idol from Indonesia Under the Big 3
Weeks approaching its upcoming debut on February 24, 2025, and Hearts2Hearts has been showing signs of becoming the next legend among 5th generation K-pop groups.
Since the rumors about its upcoming members circulated on the internet for the first time, Hearts2Hearts immediately created a massive buzz in both Korean and international K-pop communities. And not only because Hearts2Hearts was SM second largest girl group after Girls Generation, but also because of one of its members, Carmen, a new K-pop idol who came from Indonesia.
Previously, SM Entertainment revealed details about Carmen as possibly the only non-Korean member of Hearts2Hearts. Born in Bali, Indonesia, Carmen will captivate fans worldwide with her clear and elegant vocals.
Not only that but Korean and international fans have also praised Carmen’s adorable visual. With wide bright eyes, clear skin, and a small face, netizens proudly compared Carmen’s stunning visual to fit the perfect template of SM’s visual origin, Girls’ Generation Yoona.
Moreover, videos of Carmen then circulated on social media, creating massive anticipation not only for her visuals but also for her skills and talent.
This K-pop idol from Indonesia has reportedly trained under the company for approximately 2 years before officially debuting as Hearts2Hearts Carmen later this month. Therefore, with such innocent visual and highly-anticipated skills and vocals, Carmen gained massive attention. And it will be especially important since she is the only non-Korean member of the group.
Massive Support from Fans in Indonesia Elevates Carmen’s Popularity Even More
Once SM Entertainment revealed Carmen to be one of the members of Hearts2Hearts, she became a massive hit among K-pop fans in Indonesia. After all, Hearts2Hearts Carmen has now become the first idol from Indonesia to successfully debut under the Big 3 K-pop companies: SM, JYP, and YG Entertainment.
All this time, Indonesia has been one of the largest markets for the Hallyu wave. In this country, there is always a special place for K-pop and K-dramas, as Indonesian fans tend to put them on a pedestal.
That is why fans from Indonesia are extremely proud to have Carmen debuting with Hearts2 Hearts under SM Entertainment. They know that all K-pop idols must undergo rigorous training and pressure, so they are proud that Carmen has successfully passed them.
Also, many saw her debut as a milestone for Indonesian representation in K-pop, and social media quickly flooded with supportive messages, celebratory posts, and fan art honoring Carmen’s achievement. They believe it is an achievement that is worth celebrating.
Therefore, Indonesian fans took to social media, hyping Carmen even more and creating massive buzz around her.
Debates and Arguments within Korean Online Communities – Why?
Since the support for Hearts2Hearts Carmen from K-pop fans in Indonesia is incredibly massive, it became a viral topic in the Korean online community. Korean fans have been actively discussing all the support for Carmen for her debut as the first K-pop idol from Indonesia under the big 3 companies, resulting in heated debates and arguments.
And yet, why? Why do Korean netizens make a big deal so much out of this support from K-pop fans in Indonesia for Carmen?
Apparently, several concerns have been raised in the online community.
1. Fears of Fandom Conflict and Solo Stanning
One of the biggest concerns raised by Korean netizens is the potential for fan wars within Hearts2Hearts’ fandom. Based on past experiences with foreign idols in K-pop, some netizens fear that Carmen’s fans may cause tension by demanding special treatment or accusing the company of unfair distribution of parts, styling, and screen time.
Korean fans pointed to previous cases of international fans clashing with Korean fans, particularly when accusing agencies of whitewashing, favoritism, or discrimination against foreign members.
- “Indonesian fans will start complaining about screen time and line distribution—just watch.”
- “We’ve seen this before with Thai and Chinese members… Now, it’s happening with Indonesia.”
- “Carmen is pretty and cute, so I support her, but yeah, Indonesian fans are exhausting. Their male idols collaborated with Starbucks, and they spammed social media about it for days. It was unbelievably annoying. Southeast Asian fans accusing idols of “whitewashing” is nothing new, so ignore it. Not all of them are like that, but if it gets tied to Islam, it’s going to be a nightmare. Please, just don’t let it go in that direction… lol.”
- “I only stan all-Korean member groups, yet I still got attacked on my alt account over “whitewashing” accusations. I completely understand why people worry about their excessive behavior.”
2. Concerns Over Indonesian Fans’ Behavior in K-pop Fandoms
Many Korean netizens expressed exhaustion at what they described as Southeast Asian K-pop fans being overly dramatic or overly sensitive in online discussions. Some even claimed that Indonesian fans tend to be overly vocal, sometimes leading to unnecessary controversy.
- “Southeast Asian fans are always over the top. They’ll flood social media, accuse companies of racism, and ‘educate’ Korean fans.”
- “They don’t spend money like the Chinese do, but they sure have the loudest voices.”
- “They don’t even spend money but meddle in everything the most.”
Several users compared Indonesian K-pop fans to Thai fans, referencing BLACKPINK’s Lisa, who also received overwhelming support from her home country but often found herself at the center of heated debates regarding favoritism and mistreatment.
3. Doubts About Indonesia as a Strong K-pop Market
Another major debate was the comparison between the engagement and the financial market for K-pop. While Indonesian fans are known for their strong online engagement, Korean netizens debated whether they actually contribute to album sales and concert revenue.
Some claimed that Indonesia’s economic structure makes it difficult for most fans to afford albums and merchandise, making them a less profitable market than China, Japan, or the U.S..
- “They stream a lot on YouTube, but do they actually spend money?”
- “Indonesia is a huge market, but financially, it’s not on the same level as China or Japan.”
- “If they don’t spend money but cause drama and act entitled, it’s just too much to handle…”
4. National Pride vs. Overreaction
While some Korean netizens acknowledged that it’s natural for Indonesian fans to feel proud, others questioned whether Carmen’s debut should be treated as a major national achievement.
Many compared it to when Korean athletes or actors gained global recognition, saying that while pride is understandable, excessive celebration can sometimes come off as over-the-top.
- “When Park Ji Sung debuted in the Premier League, we were proud but didn’t act like this.”
- “Every country has national pride, but this feels like an overreaction.”
- “They’ll be overdoing the national pride thing—it’s going to be exhausting.”
5. Excessive Accusations Against Indonesian Fans
However, the debates continued as some netizens also believed that Korean fans were simply throwing exaggerating accusations against Indonesia. The massive support for Hearts2Hearts Carmen is simply because fans are happy for Carmen. Indonesian fans know how rigorous the idol training process and for Carmen to be able to debut as a K-pop idol under big 3 is commendable for them
- “They’re proud—well, isn’t that natural? Indonesians are the same as people from any other country. National pride is universal.”
- “Isn’t this just about being proud that an Indonesian is debuting in a K-pop girl group? I don’t see any issue with the tweets in the original post…”
- “Most of the tweets brought up just express support and pride. And as for the crazies… honestly, let’s be real, there are even crazier ones in Korean fandoms.”
- “Every fandom has fans who overdo it. Why single out Southeast Asian fans as the only ones being ‘extra’? Honestly, this just sounds like racism. Chinese, Japanese, and Western fans also get over-the-top sometimes.”
Hearts2Hearts Carmen: History-Making K-pop Idol from Indonesia with Online Domination Even Before Debut
Despite the ongoing debates, one thing is undeniable—Carmen has already made history as the first Indonesian idol to debut under a Big 3 company. Her presence in Hearts2Hearts will not only represent her talent and perseverance but also a reflection of K-pop’s continuous global expansion.
Indeed, with all these debates and arguments, challenges may be looming for Carmen. However, it is also completely undeniable that Carmen has created a massive buzz even before she officially debuts with Hearts2Hearts.
With her stunning visuals, strong vocals, and passionate fanbase, she has the potential to leave a lasting impact on the 5th generation K-pop scene.
In fact, some netizens in the community believe so as well.
- “Whether or not they spend money doesn’t matter. If she has top-tier skills and visuals in a Big 3 company, she’ll definitely become the next Lisa. Because when expanding into the U.S. or Europe, SNS followers and YouTube views serve as proof of popularity. Until now, K-pop was big, but mostly limited to Asia. For it to truly go global, an idol needs visuals, talent, and international fame.”
- “They haven’t revealed all the members yet, but Carmen is the only one with natural beauty.”
- “Carmen is the prettiest. Regardless of the nationality, she has the visual to debut in any country.”
- “Carmen is really pretty. It should be okay.”
But what do you think? With Hearts2Hearts debut approaches, will Carmen eventually become the next international K-pop icon, just like BLACKPINK Lisa?
Stay tuned for Hearts2Hearts’ debut on February 24, 2025, and let’s see how Carmen shines on the global K-pop stage!
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