Low-Key Fandom: 'Non-Obvious' K-pop Goods Gain Popularity
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
Adult K-pop fans are shifting from overt merchandise (photo cards, light sticks) to discreet, everyday items featuring artist-created character IPs. Pop-up stores for character lines like SEVENTEEN’s MINITEEN, BTS-linked BT21, and others have drawn large crowds in Seoul and abroad, selling practical goods (pouches, stationery, keyrings) that don’t explicitly show members’ faces but are recognizable to fans. Entertainment and IP companies emphasize designs that appeal to non-fans, artist participation in character creation, and product practicality, turning fandom goods into mainstream-desired items while allowing fans to enjoy favorites without overtly displaying them. (일코: behaving like a non-fan/cosplaying as an ordinary person)
