Fans form a long queue to enter K-pop sensation BTS’ pop-up store, the House of BTS, in southern Seoul on Oct. 18, 2019. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Korea Bizwire) — With the official opening of BTS’ pop-up store on Friday, “House of BTS” has been filled with fans from all around the world.
The store opens from 10 a.m., but a number of fans waited for the store to open from dawn.
Decorated from the first basement level to the third floor above the ground, it is considered a place for exhibition rather than a space for buying goods.
More than 200 kinds of goods including dolls, figures, clothing and cushions are on display in the main showroom on the first basement floor.
On one side, a BTS music video plays on a large screen. On the other side, augmented reality kiosks greet fans.
An augmented reality kiosk is an experience-type space where one can dance with BTS characters and receive a video of the dancing.
Meanwhile, the second floor was also designed for fans to feel as if they were at “BTS World.”
A bus stop in Gangneung, Gangwon Province was reproduced on the second floor. The bus stop is known to fans as it appeared in the music video of “Spring Day.” Fans can leave messages on the bus stop.
Furthermore, a room that reproduces scenes from the music videos for “IDOL” and “DNA” gives fans the impression that they are in a music video.
Fans of global K-pop stars BTS look around the group’s pop-up store, House of BTS, in Seoul’s posh district of Gangnam on Oct. 20, 2019. (Yonhap)
The third floor is exactly like the attic that appeared in the mini-album “Map of the Soul.” A photo of the seven members sitting side by side is also installed. Visitors can take pictures next to it.
An outdoor garden is equipped with several large “Army Bombs”, light sticks for BTS. After the viewing, one can receive the items that one chooses on the first floor.
A Japanese middle school student who visited with her mother from Nagoya, Japan, said she came to the pop-up store instead of going to a concert, adding that it’s good to feel BTS so close.
Visitors looked happy, though they could have been annoyed by the long waiting time.
“The biggest attraction of BTS is that they keep communicating with fans, albeit indirectly,” said Lee Yoon-joo, a 21-year-old university student.
“House of BTS” runs until January 5 next year. It will also be staged in Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka, Japan, from November 23 to December 29.
D. M. Park (dmpark@koreabizwire.com)
