Photocard
| Synonyms: | PC, Photo Card, pocas, papels |
| See also: | K-Pop, Cheki |
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Photocard is a piece of popular K-Pop merchandise. One or more photocards are usually included with each album which has made collecting them a popular hobby among fans. Since each album comes with numerous versions of photocards (normally at least one per group member) it is common for fans to sell and trade amongst each other. [1]
What photocards someone chooses to collect varies a lot between fans. Some will only collect photocards from a certain group or a specific member of that group. Others might collect photocards from a specific era of the group's career. [2]
History
Girls’ Generation was the first K-pop group that included photocards in their 2010 album Oh. Each physical album contained one random photocard, and the buyer would only know which member they got after opening the album.[3]
Since then, now typically all albums, photobooks, Season's Greetings, lightsticks, and official merchandise releases contain a photocard.
Buying Culture
Many K-pop fans buy photocards through forums and social media, either trading, selling or buying. When trading or buying, some use wishlists to find sellers and traders who have photocards they want. Prices for photocards can vary depending on a member's popularity, group's popularity, rarity, and quality. Photocards with dents, scraps, of nugu groups, or of less popular members typically sell for less.
Records
The most expensive photocard ever sold was a photocard of BTS's V from the group's first Muster fan meeting that sold for $839.99 USD.[4]
References
- ^ KPop Merchandise Guide KPop Photo Cards
- ^ beginners guide to collecting k-pop: photocards Youtube - rosieateez
- ^ ‘Papels’ as investments? An introductory guide to K-pop photocards by Ysa Abad, Archived version
- ^ These Are 20 Of The Most Expensive K-Pop Photocards Ever Sold by Alicia Valley, Archived version