K-pop idols BTS, Exo, Shinee and IU get crazy birthday gifts from fans – ads in New York’s Times Square, Chanel and Hermes bags – what do fans get in return?
As fervent fans save up to buy rich superstars gifts they can easily afford, celebrities like IU, Exo’s Xiumin, Shinee’s Taemin and BTS have called for fans to express their appreciation in more measured ways – because they can no longer walk around their homes due to the number of gifts piling up
From taking out block-wide advertising slogans in prime locations around the world to saving up for luxury handbags to gift superstars who can easily afford to treat themselves, here are some of the most extravagant presents that these Korean celebrities have received from the fans.
I really want to receive all your gifts in consideration of your efforts but I have no space to walk around my house
Fans advertise – heavily
When the birthday date of a beloved celeb approaches, fans make sure that everyone knows the day by putting up advertising displays in subway stations, buses and buildings, in cities around the world. For NCT member Jaehyun’s birthday this year, his fan club Banana Fish posted a birthday message on the Thomson Reuters building in New York’s Times Square, blasted out to confused commuters more than 10 times a day.
Other Korean celebrities who have been felicitated on the same prime NYC ad screens for their birthdays include Song Hye-kyo, Daniel Kang from Wanna One and, naturally, members of BTS.
Back at home, it’s almost an everyday sight – according to Seoul Metro, the number of ads taken out for celebrities has increased to 2,166 in 2019, compared to 76 in 2015. In 2019 most were for BTS with 227 ads.
Fans splurge – not skimp