Demand for official merchandise from the K-pop supergroup BTS is surging ahead of its upcoming comeback concert, driving shortages and pushing resale prices sharply higher, according to market data.
On Bunjang, an online marketplace for used goods, searches for BTS-related terms — including “BTS light stick,” “BTS concert” and “BTS ticket” — have ranked among the most popular this month, reflecting a concurrent rise in demand for both concert access and merchandise.
As of March, search volume for the BTS light stick — widely known as the “ARMY Bomb” — surged 438 percent from the previous month and 1,764 percent from a year earlier. Monthly transaction volume for the item also rose 136 percent over the same period.
Supply shortages have begun to surface in the domestic resale market, where listings are selling out within 30 minutes of being posted.
Overseas demand is also increasing, with a growing number of transactions for BTS light sticks reported on Mercari, an e-commerce company.
Prices of the official light stick have climbed sharply. On the limited-edition trading platform KREAM, the highest recorded transaction this year reached about 300,000 won ($225). Recent trades on KREAM and Bunjang have typically ranged between 100,000 won and 200,000 won.
Trading activity has also accelerated. KREAM reported that light stick transactions between March 10 and 16 rose about 513 percent from the previous week.
