ONCE (fandom)

ONCE (fandom)
Name	ONCE
Caption	Official lightstick and fanclub logo often used at concerts
Founded	2015
Founder	Fan community (South Korea)
Region	Global
Members	Millions (estimated)
Associated acts	Twice (group)

ONCE (fandom) is the official fanbase name for the South Korean girl group Twice (group). The fandom emerged alongside Twice's debut activities and has grown into a global community encompassing supporters across South Korea, Japan, United States, China, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Brazil, Mexico, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Australia, and other countries. Members coordinate to support Twice through streaming campaigns, concert attendance, charity, and coordinated social-media efforts.

Origin and Name

The name ONCE was announced in 2015 during Twice's promotional cycle tied to reality series Sixteen (TV series), the formation program produced by JYP Entertainment. The name evokes the phrase "Once you love us, we'll repay you twice," referencing pledges often highlighted in statements from artists like Park Jin-young and brands under JYP Entertainment. The selection paralleled naming conventions used by other K-pop fandoms such as EXO-L, ARMY (fanbase), BLINK, BTS, Sone, Carat (fandom), Reveluv, and NCTzens, reflecting an industry pattern where entertainment companies and artists formalize fandom identities.

History and Development

ONCE developed in tandem with Twice's rise following singles such as "Like OOH-AHH" and "Cheer Up," which achieved chart success on Gaon Music Chart and Billboard's World Digital Songs. Early organization leveraged platforms like Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, V Live, Weverse (post-JYP integration), and regional portals such as LINE and Baidu. International growth accelerated with Twice's Japanese market entry through Warner Music Japan and charting on the Oricon chart, and with world tour legs promoted through partners such as Live Nation and Ticketmaster. Milestones tying fandom structure to corporate mechanisms included official fanclub registration and the release of an official lightstick that followed the path of other branded goods distributed by KakaoTalk Gift, WeMakePrice, and official JYP channels.

Activities and Events

ONCE coordinates a range of activities: organized streaming campaigns to boost entries on Billboard and Oricon charts, bulk purchasing of albums to influence sales metrics reported by Hanteo, ticketing mobilization for tours stopping in venues like Tokyo Dome, Madison Square Garden, Nippon Budokan, Olympic Gymnastics Arena, and festival appearances including KCON and Coachella-adjacent showcases. Fan-driven events include birthday projects, charity drives in collaboration with nonprofits present in cities such as Seoul, Osaka, Los Angeles, and Bangkok, and fan-organized flash mobs and lightstick coordinate shows during encore stages. ONCE also participates in televised voting for award shows like the Mnet Asian Music Awards, Melon Music Awards, Golden Disc Awards, and international accolades including Billboard Music Awards and MTV Video Music Awards.

Fan Culture and Community Practices

The fandom culture balances localized subgroups with transnational networks. Practices include producing reaction videos on YouTube, fan art circulated on DeviantArt and Pixiv, fanfiction shared via platforms like Wattpad and Archive of Our Own, and curated timelines on Twitter and Tumblr. ONCE maintains etiquette norms influenced by South Korean entertainment precedents—coordinated chant guides at concerts, gift restrictions aligned with agency policies, and fan-translated content distributed to non-Korean speakers. Fandom aesthetics borrow from Twice’s visual motifs seen in music videos produced by directors who worked with acts such as Blackpink, Red Velvet, and Girls' Generation, while karaoke culture engages venues like Karaoke (noraebang) establishments across East Asia and diaspora communities.

Relationship with Twice and Official Recognition

ONCE holds formal recognition from JYP Entertainment; the agency developed official fanclub tiers, merchandise, and exclusive content distribution. The relationship features reciprocal interactions: Twice acknowledges ONCE during award acceptance speeches, fan meetings, and reality programming appearances including Weekly Idol and Knowing Bros, while agency-sanctioned events provide meet-and-greets, fan signs, and online Q&A sessions. The fandom’s influence has been measurable in chart outcomes, ticket sellouts, and corporate collaborations with brands like Adidas, Samsung, and Lotte where fan campaigns can affect endorsement metrics.

Notable Members and Fan Projects

Prominent ONCE initiatives include large-scale charity campaigns supporting causes referenced during global crises and disaster relief coordinated with organizations active in United Nations-adjacent philanthropy circles. Fan projects have produced documentary-style compilations uploaded to YouTube channels chronicling Twice’s tours, coordinated international birthday advertisements in public spaces like Times Square, and crowdfunded translations for subtitles on concert DVDs and variety appearances. Subgroups such as regional fanclubs in Seoul, Tokyo, New York City, Manila, Jakarta, Bangkok, and Santiago, Chile organize local initiatives. Some individual ONCE-run fan accounts have become influential cultural commentators on platforms including Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.

Criticism and Controversies

Critiques of ONCE have mirrored broader debates about fan mobilization: concerns over bulk purchases affecting chart integrity debated in contexts involving Hanteo and Gaon Chart policies, controversies around fan behavior at airports and venues featuring privacy disputes tied to incidents related to artists like G-Dragon and regulations enforced by Incheon International Airport security, and polarized responses to idol-fan interactions seen in controversies across K-pop fandoms including EXO, BTS, and Blackpink. Internal disputes among subgroups have occasionally led to public disagreements on social media and petition drives. JYP and venues have had to mediate issues such as scalping complaints linked to platforms like StubHub and ticket resale controversies historically seen with international touring acts.

Category:K-pop fandoms