Kpop Fansign: What Is It and How to Win [2023 Ultimate Guide] - Cute Frog Creations (2024)

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 you’d love to see your kpop idol bias in the flesh. If you’d like to get into a fan signing event, it helps to know how they work and what to expect.

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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, you’re 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. It’s 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 they’re 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

Here’s 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, there’s a decent chance that you’ll 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.

It’s 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 aren’t unlimited and the event planners may cap how many fans can get in. That’s 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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What Happens at a Kpop Fansign?

If you’re 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, you’ll 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, here’s Jihyo having a fun time at a recent Twice fansign.

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.

There’ll 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, they’ll 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.

It’s 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, they’ll 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.

And you never know what you’ll 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 what’s 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 it’s for people who won a spot from a lottery drawing, you can’t bring friends in with you either. Public fansigns that are open to anyone usually don’t have that rule.

Reading through the rules for the event before you go can help you avoid any headaches. That’s especially important if you want to bring gifts since that could be money wasted if you’re not allowed to give them to the group members.

How to Win a Kpop Fansign

If you’re hoping to win a ticket to a fansign, the first thing you’ll want to do is find out when they’re happening.

You can check your favorite group’s Daum Cafe page or their socials for updates on fansign events to see when the next one is scheduled.

Next, you’ll want to find out what kind of fansign it is. If it’s 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, you’ll need to buy at least one album to get an entry, from the seller that’s specified by the event planner.

That’s 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 you’ve won. The message should include all of the details you need to know ahead of time, including:

• What form of ID you’ll 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 you’re an international fan who’s 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, it’s a good idea to contact the event organizer ASAP so there’s no confusion about anything.

How Many Albums Do You Need to Buy to Get Into a Fansign?

There’s no set rule on the number of albums you need to buy in order to win a ticket to a kpop fansign.

It’s possible to win if you buy just one album, that’s not unheard of. However, if you spend any time at all trying to get into a fansign or video call you’ll 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, you’ll see the same people winning over and over, which can get really frustrating. Especially if they’re 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 don’t do anything about them because they want that person to continue dropping big bucks on albums.

If you’re 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 you’d love to have an album with your idol’s personal signature on the front, you can always buy them online. Hello82, for example, sells signed copies of Atee*z’s albums each time they have a comeback.

Kpop Fansign Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What’s the difference between a fansign and a video call?

Fansigns and video calls are both fan events but they don’t work the same way. At a traditional kpop fansign, you get a chance to meet members of your favorite group in person. You’ll have a little bit of time to chat with each member, get a signed album and give them any gifts that you’re allowed to bring.

A kpop video call event happens virtually. So, you’re 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, they’ll be shipped out to you wherever you live.

Here’s a lyOn video chatting with OnlyOneOf’s Nine on a recent fancall.

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 isn’t that different from trying to get a spot for an in-person signing. You’ll 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. You’ll need to make sure you’re in the queue before the call and that you’ve got a good connection so you don’t miss your chance to connect.

What do you say during a kpop fansign?

A fansign can be nerve-wracking because you don’t have a lot of time to chat and you don’t 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 they’re 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, don’t panic!

It’s totally fine to feel shy or nervous but you’ve 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 they’re offered.

If you’re in doubt, read the rules for the fan event beforehand so you know what you can or can’t bring. And you can always write a heartfelt note to your idol on their official fan cafe if you’re not allowed to bring anything in.

Can you transfer your fansign ticket to someone else?

While it’s 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 can’t go when the event is scheduled, know that your ticket is use it or lose it. That’s why it’s a good idea to check out different dates for fansign events ahead of time to make sure you’ll 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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What’s your best tip for winning a kpop fan sign?