A visitor takes a photo of a BTS photo card on the steps of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Jongno District, central Seoul, Jan. 6. Yonhap
With K-pop juggernaut BTS set to reunite as a full group in about a month, listings and searches for the band’s merchandise have surged on secondhand marketplaces.
The surge reflects fans’ rush to stock up on concert-ready items ahead of the group’s first comeback in nearly three years and nine months, with a show set for Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul next month and a world tour beginning in April that will span 34 cities in North America, Europe, South America and Asia.
On Wednesday, Bungaejangter, a local secondhand marketplace known as Bunjang, said the number of BTS-related items listed last month rose 35 percent from the previous month, while the number of users posting those listings jumped 61.5 percent.
A total of 11,014 BTS-related items were listed last month, up 22.3 percent from the same month a year earlier, following the release of the group’s studio album schedule that sent related keyword searches up nearly twentyfold.
Among international users, V was the most searched member for BTS merchandise, while purchases by European users rose, led by buyers in Great Britain, Spain and Austria, Bunjang said.
The platform said news of BTS’ return quickly showed up in search data, while demand also rose as fans sought merchandise ahead of concerts in Korea.
As of last month, the number of transactions for BTS cheering tools, apparel and accessories rose 93 percent from the previous month, while total sales climbed 67 percent.
In contrast, transactions involving photo cards priced at 100,000 won ($69) fell 41 percent, signaling a move away from high-end collectibles and toward items fans can use at concerts.
“The market is shifting into concert prep mode, where light sticks and slogans to wave at shows are valued more than photo cards kept in display cases,” Bunjang said.
Source: Korea Times News
