appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

The Korea Times

By Pyo Kyung-min
Seoul’s Seongdong district has been abuzz in recent days as crowds, many donning purple, gather near a studio building.
The reason for the excitement? Fans of the superstar boy group BTS – also known as BTS Army – from across the globe have come here to visit the group’s latest pop-up store, BTS Pop-up: Monochrome.
Despite the absence of the K-pop group’s members, who are currently fulfilling their mandatory military service in South Korea, excitement at the venue remains palpable.

More than a week after the store’s opening on April 26, eager fans still endure staggering wait times, some even waiting more than eight hours.
One Army member says she waited for five hours just to secure entry.

“This is my second visit. It’s quite a wait, but definitely worth it,” Ines, a 25-year-old Portuguese student studying in Korea, says.
Alongside Ines, a diverse array of visitors, including groups of Korean fangirls and middle-aged enthusiasts leaving with bags full of merch, contribute to the vibrant atmosphere around the store.
The concept behind this pop-up is to deliver memories of BTS to fans worldwide through “memory clouds”.

The “memory cloud” concept, symbolising every moment shared between BTS and Army stored in a metaphorical cloud, debuted at the group’s 2018 fan meet-and-greet event.
Upon entry to the pop-up, visitors are provided with a luggage tag at the check-in desk before heading into a space designed to replicate a logistics warehouse, with stacks of wooden boxes and parcels surrounding conveyor belts.
Here, visitors encounter memories associated with BTS while viewing previously unreleased black-and-white photos of the members and music videos. They can also get a special certificate to commemorate their visit from a booth located at the exit.

Aashni, a 20-year-old British BTS fan who first discovered the group through the 2019 hit “Boy With Luv”, praises the pop-up.
“Back in my country, it’s not as open and friendly about fan culture, whereas here, I can meet people in the same situation, all here to support BTS. The overall experience has been so positive” she says.
She particularly appreciates how the pop-up facilitates socialisation among the dedicated members of Army.

“If you are an introvert like I am, you might have to force yourself to try it, but I managed to chat with many different people and the conversation just carries on. It’s really nice.”
The pop-up event runs until May 12, and is set to travel to Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, the United States, the Philippines and other countries thereafter.
Read the full story at The Korea Times.


How Hong Kong’s wuxia drama ‘princess’ Michelle Yim has kept her star shining for 55 years

Oreo and BTS launch purple cookies in new K-pop collaboration

BTS fans vs bots, scalpers: Army girds for high-stakes Malaysia ticket battle

With new album Pureflow Pt.1, Le Sserafim are facing their fears and are stronger for it

K-pop, Mandopop and other Asian pop

BTS’ Seoul pop-up ‘Monochrome’ draws band’s Army fans despite K-pop superstars’ absence for Korean military service

Fans wait outside BTS’ Seoul pop-up store, Monochrome, on its opening day. The pop-up has attracted members of the band’s Army fandom in their droves. Photo: AFP

BTS’ pop-up store, Monochrome, in Seoul, has attracted members of the boy band’s Army fandom in their droves despite the K-pop superstars being away fulfilling their national service in the South Korean armed forces. Photo: AFP

Fans wait outside BTS’s new pop-up store, Monochrome, on its opening day on April 26, 2024. Photo: AFP

Inside the fan-packed BTS Pop-up: Monochrome. Photo: AFP

Fans wait to pay for merchandise at Monochrome. Photo: AFP

The pop-up is decked out to look like a warehouse, and has black-and-white photos and other things relating to the group. Photo: AFP

A fan poses for photos at Monochrome. Photo: AFP

Super Junior’s Kyuhyun on his love for his fans and why he couldn’t be a K-pop rookie today

Kyuhyun before his solo concert in Hong Kong in early April. The K-pop veteran of idol group Super Junior looks back on his 18-year-long career and shares how his relationship with his fans has changed. Photo: SCMP

Fans of Kyuhyun said they cherish the comfort and companionship that only time can create. Photo: courtesy of Antenna

Kyuhyun performing at the AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong. Photo: Sophie Li

The initial reaction to Kyuhyun could not have been more different than that of Super Junior fans today. Photo: Antenna 

Kyuhyun has expressed his gratitude to his fans. Photo: Antenna 

Kyuhyun performs at the Seoul Park Music Festival 2023. Photo: Getty Images

Fans of Kyuhyun said they cherish the comfort and companionship only time can create. Photo: Antenna 

Kyuhyun fans queue outside his concert venue in Hong Kong. Photo: Lllewellyn Cheung

K-pop star Kino on going solo, his new album and surviving the gruelling K-pop training schedule

K-pop star Kino, 26, has been in the South Korean music industry since he was 12. He talks about going solo after boy band Pentagon’s break-up, training, and his new album. Photo: courtesy of Naked 

Kino is dropping his first solo album, If this is love, I want a refund, in early May. Photo: courtesy of Naked

Kino has wanted to be a singer since he was young. Photo: courtesy of Naked

Kino and his backing band during his concert at The Box, in Freespace, in West Kowloon, Hong Kong. Photo: Sophie Li 

Fans take photos at Kino’s Born Naked concert in Hong Kong in April 2024. Photo: Erika Na

Blackpink, Le Sserafim, Ateez, The Rose: how K-pop and Korean music is becoming a core element of Coachella

K-pop and Korean music appear to be a new core element for the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival – the 2024 event saw groups Le Sserafim (pictured), Ateez and The Rose take to the stage – much like Blackpink did in 2023. Photo: TNS

Lisa, Jisoo, Jennie and Rosé of Blackpink at Coachella during the 2023 festival in California. Photo: Getty Images via AFP

Jeong Yunho of Ateez during the first weekend of Coachella 2024. Photo: AP

Festivalgoers attend the first weekend of Coachella 2024. Photo: AP

Le Sserafim at Coachella 2024, dressed in custom Nicolas Ghesquière leather. Photo: Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Lifestyle

K-drama

Bands

Entertainment

K-Pop

A pop-up BTS merch store in Seoul is drawing members of the boy band’s fandom Army even though the K-pop superstars are serving in the South Korean armed forces
At the ‘Monochrome’ pop-up, fans can enjoy moments that are stored in a ‘memory cloud’, and buy photos of band members and other fan merchandise


A pop-up store selling merch of K-pop superstars BTS in Seoul has drawn members of the band’s Army fandom from around the world, despite them being away doing their military service.


Retailing

Korea Times

South Korea