Buying merchandise of your favourite K-pop group is part of the fan culture because, for many, it’s how they show their love for these idols. While most K-pop merchandise is either cute (see: NCT Wish’s plushies mascot keychains) or extra (see: NMIXX’s seashell MP3 player), some idols decided to go the unhinged route with their merchandise.
Of course, you can find some weird bootleg K-pop merchandise, but these items that we’ll list are merchandise released by the actual companies, and some are even designed by the idols themselves. If you’re looking for something unique ,K-pop stuff, check out these unserious – and unhinged – products:
BIGBANG Daesung “Ice, Nose, Lips” Ice Trays
Being one of the funniest idols in the K-pop industry means you have to have one of the funniest merchandise. Daesung’s “Ice, Nose, Lips” ice tray is a witty pun on his groupmate Taeyang’s hit song, but it’s also an ice tray that he released as part of his 2014 solo tour in Japan. The best part? The ice tray is a mould of his actual nose and lips.
BIGBANG Eye & Face Mask
Speaking of BIGBANG, the group also has their fair share of interesting merchandise, having been in the K-pop industry for nearly two decades. However, the most unserious BIGBANG merchandise has to be their eye and face masks, featuring the eyes and lips of each member. The eye masks are also double-sided so you can choose to either open or close the “eyes”.
EPIK HIGH Park Kyu Bong Lightsticks
EPIK HIGH may not be idols, but that didn’t stop them from creating some of the most talked-about merchandise in the K-music industry. For their official lightstick, the trio went the “undoubtedly hip-hop route” with a middle finger lightstick. They also made a keychain version, so fans can bring their f*cks everywhere they go.
EPIK HIGH Seasons Greetings
Of course, EPIK HIGH didn’t just stop at making unserious lightsticks because they also made what appeared to be the funniest calendar any K-pop act can create. The trio took the family portrait theme and put their fun spin on it, dressing up as “Squid Game” characters, farmers and more.
SHINee Matchsticks
Candles are common merchandise, but the match or lighter often gets left out of the set. Enter SHINee-brand matchsticks. These matchsticks themed to the group’s official colour, pearl aqua green, were released as part of their 12th anniversary in 2020. Unfortunately, it seems more fans will save these matches instead of using them for their intended use.
Idol Hangers
Yes, these are hangers with idols’ faces on them so you can pretend that your favourite member is wearing your clothes. Idol hangers originated from J-pop culture, but some K-pop groups and idols, including TWICE’s Jeongyeon, have started producing them for their merchandise line. Fun fact: some J-pop male idols even go shirtless for their fans to give the hangers a better visual impression.
TWICE Tzuyu Trash Can
For TWICE’s first world tour, each of the members designed a special merchandise and Tzuyu’s happened to be a grey trash can. The design even featured the words “trash can” to highlight its actual purpose. While the idea seemed odd at first, the product proved to be the most popular member-designed merchandise because it was the first to sell out.
SEVENTEEN Seungkwan Scraping Massage Tool
Beauty tools are all the rage, and since K-pop stars are at the forefront of the beauty scene, it’s no surprise that one of them will release a beauty tool as merchandise. However, the idol in question was SEVENTEEN’s Seungkwan, who created a scraping massage tool meant to reduce puffing and bloating in the face.
SM Entertainment’s Idol-themed Food Products
A few years back, SM Entertainment had a cafe that operated on the first floor of the SM Entertainment Communication Centre building in Seoul. Sadly, it has ceased operations, but when it was still open, fans could purchase SM idol-themed food, including EXO instant noodles and Red Velvet fish sticks.
