From photocards and albums to MP3 players, home decor: the evolution of K-pop merch

“Even if you’re not a big merch buyer, you learn fast that if you don’t get it now, you’ll never see it again.” For Jin Yoo-won, a 28-year-old fan of Monsta X, that sense of urgency has become part of everyday fandom. K-pop agencies release new merchandise year-round, often in limited quantities and rarely restocked — pushing fans to act quickly or risk missing out on what feels like a piece of their favorite group’s story. That sense of urgency is not accidental. It sits at the center of a merc