CARAT (fandom)

CARAT (fandom)
Name	CARAT
Founded	2010s
Region	Global
Members	Tens of thousands
Notable	Seventeen, Pledis Entertainment, K-pop

CARAT (fandom) is the official name for the organized fanbase of the South Korean boy band Seventeen, recognized across international music, entertainment, and pop culture networks. The fandom functions as a coordinated supporter community that intersects with media outlets, streaming platforms, award institutions, and philanthropic organizations. CARAT's activities span online engagement on social platforms, organized streaming for awards like the Billboard Music Awards, and coordinated charity drives paralleling campaigns by other fandoms linked to groups such as BTS, EXO, and Blackpink.

Overview

CARAT emerged alongside Seventeen's debut and rapidly became a visible presence within K-pop fandom infrastructure, competing and collaborating in contexts involving Melon Music Awards, Mnet Asian Music Awards, Golden Disc Awards, Billboard Music Awards, iHeartRadio Music Awards, and Spotify Wrapped-era metrics. Members often utilize platforms including Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and V Live to amplify releases and mobilize voting for prizes like the MTV Video Music Awards and Teen Choice Awards. The fandom's name is used widely in press coverage by outlets such as Billboard, NME, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and Soompi.

History and Origin

Seventeen debuted under Pledis Entertainment in 2015, with fan identity coalescing during pre-debut promotions and survival-program–style broadcasts. Early formation paralleled trajectories of fan communities for artists under labels like SM Entertainment, YG Entertainment, and JYP Entertainment, and drew attention during appearances on shows such as MBC Music, SBS Inkigayo, KBS Music Bank, and M Countdown. Milestones that shaped CARAT include Seventeen’s first wins on weekly music programs, chart placements on Gaon Music Chart and Oricon Chart, and international tours touching venues like Tokyo Dome, Madison Square Garden, and O2 Arena, which accelerated global membership.

Community and Membership

CARAT membership spans regional chapters modeled on fandom structures similar to those of ARMY, EXO-L, BLINK, ONCE, and BANA. Local fan clubs organize through platforms like Discord, Facebook, and dedicated fan cafés on Daum. Leadership styles vary from volunteer moderators to coordinated fan projects involving professional fanbases seen in interactions with institutions like Live Nation and AEG Presents. Demographically, CARAT includes adolescents and adults from regions including South Korea, Japan, United States, Brazil, Philippines, Thailand, and United Kingdom.

Activities and Events

CARATs coordinate streaming parties for comeback schedules and work to maximize visibility on charts such as Billboard 200 and UK Albums Chart. They organize fanmeet tours in conjunction with Seventeen’s agencies and ticketing processes through services like Ticketmaster and Interpark. Charity initiatives mirror efforts by fandoms associated with Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, BTS’ ARMY and others, often donating via organizations such as UNICEF, Doctors Without Borders, and region-specific relief funds after disasters in areas like Seoul, Jakarta, and Manila. Fan-organized events include anniversary projects, coordinated flash mobs at festivals like Coachella-adjacent gatherings, and participation in award voting campaigns for entities such as Melon, Mnet, and Golden Disc.

Media and Fan Works

The fandom produces a range of fan works including fan art, fanfiction, subtitling projects, and curated compilations distributed on Tumblr, Archive of Our Own, DeviantArt, and Pixiv. Fan-run channels on YouTube and playlists on Spotify compile live stages, variety show appearances on programs such as Weekly Idol, Knowing Bros, and documentary content produced by MBC or CJ ENM. Subbing teams parallel groups in other fandoms that create translations for platforms including Viki and Netflix when Seventeen content appears on international streaming services.

Cultural Impact and Reception

CARAT has influenced K-pop’s expansion into Western markets, contributing to Seventeen's entries on lists maintained by Billboard, nominations at the Guinness World Records, and placements on the Forbes Korea Power Celebrity rankings. Media coverage by The Guardian, Variety, The Washington Post, and CNN has examined fandom practices including streaming mobilization and fan labor, situating CARAT among global participatory cultures comparable to those around Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, and One Direction. The fandom’s charitable drives and organized support are frequently highlighted as examples of fan mobilization having measurable social and economic effects.

Controversies and Criticism

CARAT has faced scrutiny similar to other high-profile fandoms concerning fandom gatekeeping, fan wars with groups like BTS fandom and EXO fandom in comment sections on platforms like YouTube and Twitter/X, and debates over voting strategies for awards administered by Mnet and other broadcasters. Criticism has also addressed the pressures of streaming culture on artists, the ethics of organized chart manipulation debated in outlets such as Billboard and Variety, and instances where fan-organized events prompted local ordinance discussions in cities like Seoul and Tokyo.

Category:K-pop fandoms