This book examines the intersection of power dynamics between Asian popular culture and civil movements. This book turns the focus on the role of Asian pop culture in relation to mobilizing civil movements. It initiates discussion on the role of global fandom of Asian media and pop culture in social movements. The book elucidates the theoretical implications of the changing nature of civil movements from social and ideological, to networking and affective ones in current times. In this context, Asian pop culture plays an important role in networking among the public and in promoting affection of participants in the process of engaging in civil movements. The authors provide numerous case studies of civil movements in Asia, such as political protests in South Korea, Taiwan, Philippines and Indonesia, and social movements in China, Thailand, Japan and India. In doing so, the book highlights the role of Asian pop culture in civil movements in these countries, and expands upon trends in civil movements, and the emergence of growing demand for popular democracy. Relevant to students and scholars in media and popular culture, politics, and Asian studies more widely, this timely book re-engages the popular and the political in new and innovative ways.

Dr. Sunny Yoon is Professor of Media and Communication at Hanyang University in South Korea. She has published widely on cultural studies, visual culture and ethnographic studies of media audiences. Her research also includes new technologies including digital games, social media, AI and digital media from the cultural studies perspective. She has authored numerous books including the monograph, Social media and cultural politics of Korean pop culture in East Asia (Routledge 2023). Her recent publications include “Memefication of Squid Game and mimicry of Asian images” International Journal of Cultural Studies (2023), “Webtoons, desperately seeking viewers: interactive creativity in social media platforms and cultural appropriation of global media production” Social media and Society (2024). “Posthuman Consciousness and Artificial Hallucination: Cultural Traditions and Technologies of Embodied AI” International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction (2026).