Fan merchandise like posters, T-shirts and CDs has always been an essential part of being a fan. Who doesn't want to decorate their bedroom walls with posters of their favorite band, proudly show off the logo on a T-shirt so everyone else can see it, or have their favorite CDs within easy reach on the shelf? K-Pop fans are no different, and they in particular have an incredibly wide range of fan merchandise to choose from, as colorful and diverse as the music itself.
We don't want you to miss out on any of it, so we'll give you an overview of what you can treat yourself to next!
Albums
CDs are probably the best-known piece of fan merchandise, and although the silver discs are increasingly being replaced by streaming services and not every household has a CD player anymore, they remain very popular in the K-pop scene. That's mainly because K-pop albums contain so much more than just the CD. In most cases they come with a photo book and extras like photocards, stickers, bookmarks and postcards. The best part: every album is different.
Sometimes it's a box, sometimes a hardcover book, sometimes big, sometimes small, thick or thin, red, white, black or blue. So you can look forward to a surprise every time, and your shelf will definitely never look boring!
Besides albums by bands, you can also buy soundtracks from Korean series, which often feature songs by popular groups or individual members.
Of course, apart from CDs, separate photo books or magazines with photo shoots of your favorite band are released again and again, and they are just as swoon-worthy.
DVDs
K-pop is not only a treat for the ears but also for the eyes. That's why, besides CDs, you can of course also buy DVDs that show things like concert recordings or exclusive behind-the-scenes material, and which in most cases also come with a photo book.
Limited or special versions of albums often include a DVD in addition to the CD, showing the music video, for example.
Season's Greetings
If you want to have your favorite band with you all year round, you're in exactly the right place!
Season's Greetings usually include a calendar, a planner and a photo book, but beyond that they vary a lot. They normally contain a range of extras, such as pens, photocards, stickers, bookmarks, keychains or even DVDs with behind-the-scenes material.
Of course, small extras like keychains, buttons and stickers can also be bought individually, independent of albums and Season's Greetings.
Season's Greetings are always sold shortly before the start of a new year, so the calendars and planners can be used from day one. Whether BTS, Seventeen, Blackpink, SHINee or even solo artists like Chungha and IU, every band releases its own Season's Greetings. You're sure to find what you're looking for.
Maybe next year you'll write your appointments in a planner with photos of your favorite artist?
Lightsticks
Every band has its own lightstick, an elaborately designed lamp that usually glows in the official band colors. K-pop fans take their lightsticks, which simply run on batteries, along to concerts or other appearances of their favorite band. This creates a sea of lights in the dark arenas, also called an “Ocean” by K-pop fans, which the artists can see in all its glory from the stage and which motivates them. At festivals where various artists perform, the fans of a group usually sit together and stand out from other fan groups through their different lightsticks, so the bands can see right away where their fans are sitting.
Every band is known for its own “Ocean” that glows in the band colors. On top of that, every lightstick even has its own name.
Here are a few examples:
From left to right: BTS: Army Bomb, Twice: Candy Bong, SHINee: Shating Star
Especially for bands that have been in the business for a long time, there are different versions of lightsticks, because a new one comes out every few years. With some lightsticks the design only changes slightly, while with others a bigger difference is visible.
At concerts these days they can often be connected via Bluetooth, so they are all controlled together and all glow in the same color or even create waves of color that run through the whole arena.
Even if you don't have the chance to attend a concert, the lightstick is a special addition to your collection that doesn't look out of place during an evening in front of the TV with your favorite band's music videos. Anyone watching a concert online or on DVD can use their lightstick too.
Lightsticks are also available as keychains, cute miniature versions of the beautiful lamps, which can light up as well.
Clothing
T-shirts, jackets or bags: of course there are also clothing items with the logo of favorite bands or other designs for K-pop fans to buy. Some idols even design them themselves, like Ten from NCT, who only this year released his own clothing collection.
Besides albums, clothing and the other fan merchandise listed here, there is of course always something new, for example the mega band BTS has its own collection of Funko Pop figures that let you make your album shelf even more personal.
At our shop you'll also find, among other things, puzzles, playing cards, bottles, wallets, posters, bedside lamps, socks, phone holders, coasters, AirPod cases and pillows, with which you can make your everyday life a little nicer.
As you can see, it pays to keep your eyes open and to check your K-pop shop every now and then so you don't miss anything, especially since some albums and fan merchandise are only available for a limited time.
What does your K-pop collection look like? Is there something you absolutely still want to get? Let us know in the comments. =)
