Last Updated on June 25, 2023 by Eden
Want to take your love of k-pop to the next level? A kpop fansign is a great way to meet your favorite idols face to face.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, kpop fansign events went virtual but these days, fans can sit down and chat with k-pop idols in person once again.
Attending a fan sign event can feel like a dream come true if youâd love to see your kpop idol bias in the flesh. If youâd like to get into a fan signing event, it helps to know how they work and what to expect.
![Kpop Fansign: What Is It and How to Win [2023 Ultimate Guide] - Cute Frog Creations (1) Kpop Fansign: What Is It and How to Win [2023 Ultimate Guide] - Cute Frog Creations (1)](https://i0.wp.com/cutefrogcreations.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Etsy-Digital-Download-Images-2000-Ă-600-px-1024x768.png)
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Table of Contents
What Is a Kpop Fansign?
A kpop fansign is an event that brings members of idol groups together with their fans face to face.
Instead of seeing your favorite group members on social media or at a distance during a concert, youâre sitting down with them in the same room and getting to chat with them.
Fansigns have been a staple of the k-pop world for a while now, as kpop groups have recognized the importance of connecting with their fandoms.
And fansigns are also a way for k-pop artists to make money since fans who attend them usually have to buy one or more albums to get in. Itâs not unusual to see girl groups or boy groups host multiple fan signs throughout the year.
Related post: What Is Hi Touch Kpop? [Ultimate Fan Guide]
Why Do Kpop Groups Have Fan Signs?
K-pop groups can host fansign events as part of a comeback promotion, in between stops if theyâre touring or at any time they want to connect with fans. Rookie groups can also hold a fan sign event to get to know their fans and drum up interest in their debut.
Ghost9, for example, held their first fansign event in San Francisco as part of their U.S. tour.
The South Korean idol fandom tends to benefit the most from fan signs, as these events are often held in and around Seoul. For international fans, that usually means one of two things:
- Traveling to Korea to attend a fansign
- Holding out for a fansign event near where you live
Hereâs one thing international k-pop fans need to know about going to fansigns in Korea: there may be a limit on the number of foreigners allowed.
But if you know how to win a kpop fan sign, thereâs a decent chance that youâll be able to get in to meet your favorite groups.
How Do You Get Into a K-pop Fansign?
You typically have one of two options for getting into a fansign:
- First come, first served
- Lottery drawing
First come, first served is just what it sounds like. Fans who buy their albums first get an automatic ticket into the fansign.
A first come, first served approach is more common with new groups and rookie groups who have smaller fandoms.
Itâs more common for fansigns to use a lottery system to decide who gets in. Every album you buy = one entry into the lottery.
So, someone who buys 100 albums has 100 chances to get their name drawn in the lottery. You can buy signed albums or unsigned albums but you still get the same number of chances.
But fansigns arenât unlimited and the event planners may cap how many fans can get in. Thatâs why some fans will buy dozens and dozens of albums to ensure they have a decent chance of getting a spot.
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![Kpop Fansign: What Is It and How to Win [2023 Ultimate Guide] - Cute Frog Creations (2) Kpop Fansign: What Is It and How to Win [2023 Ultimate Guide] - Cute Frog Creations (2)](https://i0.wp.com/cutefrogcreations.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Lightstick-Straps.png)
What Happens at a Kpop Fansign?
If youâre lucky enough to get into a kpop fansign there are a few rules to know.
The first step is getting checked in. Most fan sign events require you to bring:
- A photo ID so they can verify your identity, date of birth and personal information
- The album you purchased to get into the fansign
You should be assigned either a specific seat number or line ID, which determines the order you get to go up and meet the idols.
Your number is usually the same as the number your name was drawn if the fansign is lottery-based. So if you were the 39th pick, youâll have the 39th spot in line.
Depending on how the event is organized, the idols might come out and chat with the audience first, play games or perform a few songs. They can also do this after meeting with fans.
For example, hereâs Jihyo having a fun time at a recent Twice fansign.
20230318 Soundwave Fansign#TWICE #JIHYO pic.twitter.com/u8J5e7jhK6
â ranrandu (@ranrandu0) March 18, 2023
When the actual fan signing part begins, the idols will be sitting at a table at the front of the room. They may be on a stage or platform, depending on the venue.
Thereâll be empty seats on the other side of the table facing them. Once the line starts, the first person will sit down to talk to the first idol.
When their time with that member is up, theyâll move on to the next one in line. And the next person after them takes the first seat.
The whole process continues until everyone who won a spot in the fansign has gotten to chat with each group member.
Itâs not uncommon to have only one to two minutes to meet with each idol. They might shake your hand or give you a high five and you can give them gifts if you brought them. And of course, theyâll sign your album.
Altogether, a kpop fansign can last anywhere from one to three hours, depending on how many people are invited, how many members there are in the group and the format the event follows.
atee*z fansign turned into the olympics game
â đŽ (@NotBonkyP) February 3, 2023
pic.twitter.com/0ScpjHrPip
And you never know what youâll see as this Atee*z fansign shows, since idols want to have just as much fun as their fans.
What Should I Bring to a K-pop Fansign Event?
What to bring to a kpop fansign is a little different than what to bring to a k-pop concert, since the event might have strict rules on whatâs allowed. For example, you may or may not be able to bring:
- Bottled water
- Snacks
- Cameras
- Signs
- Lightsticks
- Gifts for the idols
If the fansign is a private event, meaning itâs for people who won a spot from a lottery drawing, you canât bring friends in with you either. Public fansigns that are open to anyone usually donât have that rule.
Reading through the rules for the event before you go can help you avoid any headaches. Thatâs especially important if you want to bring gifts since that could be money wasted if youâre not allowed to give them to the group members.
How to Win a Kpop Fansign
If youâre hoping to win a ticket to a fansign, the first thing youâll want to do is find out when theyâre happening.
You can check your favorite groupâs Daum Cafe page or their socials for updates on fansign events to see when the next one is scheduled.
Next, youâll want to find out what kind of fansign it is. If itâs first come, first served, you might just need to show up on the right day at the right time to buy an album from the kpop store or popup store sponsoring the event.
On the other hand, if the fansign is lottery-based, youâll need to buy at least one album to get an entry, from the seller thatâs specified by the event planner.
![Kpop Fansign: What Is It and How to Win [2023 Ultimate Guide] - Cute Frog Creations (3) Kpop Fansign: What Is It and How to Win [2023 Ultimate Guide] - Cute Frog Creations (3)](https://i0.wp.com/cutefrogcreations.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/shutterstock_1913425321-1024x577.jpg)
Thatâs where things can get tricky. Lottery fansigns can be extremely competitive, especially when the group is more popular so you may want to plan on buying multiple kpop albums.
If your name is drawn, you should get an email or a text message letting you know that youâve won. The message should include all of the details you need to know ahead of time, including:
- What form of ID youâll need to bring
- Where the fansign is being held
- What time you need to get there
- Any special rules or restrictions you need to know
Keep in mind that if youâre an international fan whoâs going to Korea for a fansign, this message will likely be written in Korean. You can use Google Translate to switch it to English but if you have any questions at all, itâs a good idea to contact the event organizer ASAP so thereâs no confusion about anything.
How Many Albums Do You Need to Buy to Get Into a Fansign?
Thereâs no set rule on the number of albums you need to buy in order to win a ticket to a kpop fansign.
Itâs possible to win if you buy just one album, thatâs not unheard of. However, if you spend any time at all trying to get into a fansign or video call youâll quickly learn that there are some fans who are willing to buy hundreds of albums and spend thousands of dollars just to meet their favorite idols.
And with some fandoms, youâll see the same people winning over and over, which can get really frustrating. Especially if theyâre only winning fansigns or video calls so they can try to have a y/n moment with their bias.
But the reality is that those people usually have a lot of money that they can spend on albums to win a place in a fansign. Unfortunately, k-pop companies usually donât do anything about them because they want that person to continue dropping big bucks on albums.
If youâre on the fence about whether to spend a lot of money to try to get into a fan sign, consider whether there are better ways to put it to use.
For example, you could splurge on VIP tickets to a k-pop concert instead.
And remember that if youâd love to have an album with your idolâs personal signature on the front, you can always buy them online. Hello82, for example, sells signed copies of Atee*zâs albums each time they have a comeback.
Kpop Fansign Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Whatâs the difference between a fansign and a video call?
Fansigns and video calls are both fan events but they donât work the same way. At a traditional kpop fansign, you get a chance to meet members of your favorite group in person. Youâll have a little bit of time to chat with each member, get a signed album and give them any gifts that youâre allowed to bring.
A kpop video call event happens virtually. So, youâre video chatting with your favorite k-pop artist instead of seeing them in real life. If the video call includes a signed album as part of the event, theyâll be shipped out to you wherever you live.
Hereâs a lyOn video chatting with OnlyOneOfâs Nine on a recent fancall.
â avaâ· IS SEEING OOO TXT YOONGI PIXY EPIK HIGH!!! (@SquawkyJo) March 5, 2023230304 wonderwall ìí” fancall videocall fansign #ëìž #ì ì±ì§ #ì±ì§ #ìšëŠŹìì€ëž #Nine #JungWookjin #Wookjin #OnlyOneOf
the fanchants yesterdayđ„ș pic.twitter.com/JWbzPkOwgY
Kpop video calls became popular during the COVID-19 pandemic, as health restrictions prevented groups from meeting with fans in person.
How do I get a k-pop fan call?
Winning a video call with your favorite k-pop idol isnât that different from trying to get a spot for an in-person signing. Youâll need to buy an album (or multiple albums) to get a spot in the lottery drawing. If your name is pulled, then you win a video call and get to chat with your favorite idols, usually for a minute or so. Youâll need to make sure youâre in the queue before the call and that youâve got a good connection so you donât miss your chance to connect.
What do you say during a kpop fansign?
A fansign can be nerve-wracking because you donât have a lot of time to chat and you donât want to look like an idiot in front of your favorite idol. So asking simple questions can be a great way to connect in the time that you have, without embarrassing yourself (or your bias).
For example, you could ask your idols:
- Which title track they love most from all their albums
- What kind of concept is their favorite
- What theyâre reading/watching/listening to at the moment
You could also ask them to do a cute pose or complete a heart with you. Just remember that unless the event organizers give you the green light, taking photos or videos of the idols without permission could get you kicked out and even banned from future events.
And most importantly, donât panic!
Itâs totally fine to feel shy or nervous but youâve only got a small window of time to meet your idols. So make it count!
Can you bring gifts to a kpop fansign?
Whether you can bring gifts to a fansign is up to the group and/or the event promoters. Red Velvet, for example, has had a ban on gifts at fansigns in the past. Other groups may allow you to bring things like handwritten notes, small stuffed animals, cute headbands or snacks. But you should know that idols may not be able to keep any gifts theyâre offered.
If youâre in doubt, read the rules for the fan event beforehand so you know what you can or canât bring. And you can always write a heartfelt note to your idol on their official fan cafe if youâre not allowed to bring anything in.
Can you transfer your fansign ticket to someone else?
While itâs possible to resell kpop concert tickets, kpop fansign event tickets are typically not transferable. The event planners will ask to see your ID card to verify your personal information at the event. If you canât go when the event is scheduled, know that your ticket is use it or lose it. Thatâs why itâs a good idea to check out different dates for fansign events ahead of time to make sure youâll actually be able to go if you win.
Final thoughts on attending a kpop fansign
Fansigns can be a fun way to meet your idols and see them in person, outside of a kpop concert. The most important thing to remember about fansigns is that it can take some luck to get into one. But if you do win, remember to read the rules before you go so you can have the best time possible while meeting your bias.
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