NewJeans, BTS" K-Heart... Gen Z generation in the United States is "chic"

 June 11, 2024

The Wall Street Journal introduces K-Heart trend

"A small finger heart that Gen Z uses a lot"

(From left) Danielle, Haerin, and Minji of girl group NewJeans pose with
a finger heart at a photo wall event for Seoul Fashion Week's opening
show at Dongdaemun Design Plaza on the morning of March 15, 2023,
in Jung-gu, Seoul

A finger heart known as a "K-Heart" is gaining huge popularity among the Gen Z generation in the United States (young people similar to Gen Z in Korea), local media reported.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) introduced on the 9th (local time) that the "Gen Z generation is using some new hand gestures to show affection," and "One of the hand gestures commonly used by the Gen Z generation between the ages 18 and 27 is a small finger heart made by overlapping the thumb and index finger."

Actor Ma Dongseok poses at a box office audit showcase for the
movie "The Outlaws 4" at Megabox COEX in Southern Seoul
on the afternoon of May 16

The Wall Street Journal also said that "check heart" in which the thumb is placed on the lower part of the cheek and the other four fingers are bent over the cheekbone, and "cat heart," in which the index finger is bent to make it look like an ear and put on the upper part of the index finger. Face Andrews O'Neill, a 22-year-old consultant for an entertainer's agency in New York, told the Wall Street Journal that the new hand gestures are chic, sophisticated and concise.

Actor Lee Jehoon poses for a ball hesrti at a production presentation
for the new Saturday drama "Investigation Team Leader 1958" at
the Golden Mouse Hall of the MBC Kultural Broadcasting Corporation
in Mapo-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of April 18

Stephanie Choi, a Ph.D. researcher at the Asian Research Institute at New York State University, explained to the Wall Street Journal, "These hand gestures have spreads to the U.S. in recent years through K-Pop artists such as BTS, NewJeans, and Stray Kids." The Wall Street Journal also added that BTS members who visited the White House in 2022 at the invitation of U.S. President Joe Biden presented K-Heart by taking pictures with President Biden.

BTS poses for a commemorative photo as they makes a finger
heart with the U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House in Washington DC, U.S.,
May 31, 2022

Pop stars and Hollywood actors visiting Korea have also been spotted trying popular hearts in Korea several times. Actors Timothy Chalamet and Zendelia, who are gaining popularity among the Gen Z generation, also showed finger hearts and cheek hearts at a press conference in Korea in February for the film "Dune: Part 2."

(From left) Actor Timothy Chalamet, Director De Ni Villeneuve,
Zendeia, Setelan Skarsgard, and Austin Butler pose for a ball heart
at a red carpet event for the film "Dune: Part 2" at Times Square in
Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul on February 22

The Wall Street Journal said, "The number of posts containing hashtags such as #손하트 (#HandHeart) has increased exponentially over the past year." Mark Bell, a communication professor at Rutgers University in the U.S., also analyzed to the Wall Street Journal, "Gen Z generation has created a new hand gestures because they are used nonverbal communication through emoticons and memes (online trending content)."

The Wall Street Journal also introduced the older generation who attempted to share finger hearts with Gen Z.

Kim Cheon, 56, said that when her Gen Z generation daughter took a picture, she tried to make. Small heart by putting her thumb on her index finger, trying to initiate a drunken finger heart. "I tried hard, but I couldn't get it right every time," she told the Wall Street Journal. Brandon Hanks, 42, a researcher at the university, also told the Wall Street Journal, "It was really difficult to complete (the new finger heart), but I was only able to complete it completely recently. I'm proud of myself."

Original article: 한겨레