Secret Number Metaverse Fan Meeting a Success... 'Ifhome' Emerging as a Fandom Platform

Successful Communication with Global Fans on 'Ifland'
'Ifhome' Providing Star Content Also Popular
350,000 Users in Just Over Two Months Since 'Ifhome' Launch

At the end of June, over 5,300 global fans gathered for the metaverse fan meeting of the six-member girl group Secret Number, titled ‘if homecoming day,’ held on Ifland. The fan meeting featured a mixed reality (XR) performance of Secret Number’s sixth single ‘Doksah’ and interactions with fans. Notably, 90% of the attendees were overseas fans. Secret Number’s Dita said, “We want to continue holding fan meetings without the constraints of borders and distance through if home.”

On the 24th, SK Telecom announced that the metaverse platform ‘Ifland’ and the personal space service ‘if home,’ added to Ifland in May, are gaining popularity as global fan meeting venues for rising K-pop stars. The seven-member boy group Kingdom’s Ifland fan meeting was also held by connecting multiple ‘if squares’ amid global fans’ interest. Global fans communicated with Kingdom members through voice and avatar motions and enjoyed various events such as quiz contests. The performance of Kingdom’s representative song ‘Hon,’ produced using volumetric technology (a technique that captures and stores objects in 3D using multiple cameras and sensors), could be viewed in 360 degrees.

Global fans’ interest in metaverse fan meetings is extending to visits to K-pop stars’ personal spaces called ‘Special if home’ and the creation of ‘if home’ spaces. ‘Special if home’ offers diverse experiences, such as trying volumetric content of stars or dressing one’s avatar in the exact outfits worn by the stars, making it very popular. Currently, ‘Special if home’ spaces are decorated by numerous celebrities, including K-pop stars like Wonder Girls’ Sunye, Secret Number, Kingdom, and Elasto, as well as YouTuber Jachwi Nam and announcer Kwak Minseon.

Meanwhile, SKT revealed that the number of users who have created personal spaces using the ‘if home’ service, launched in May, has surpassed 350,000 in just over two months. ‘If home’ allows users to choose one from four terrains and one from six buildings, creating a total of 24 combinations. Yang Maengseok, head of SKT’s Metaverse CO, said, “Ifland is becoming a platform where K-pop stars and fans communicate and create unique memories together,” adding, “We will continue to build a new fandom culture based on the technologies and content that Ifland possesses.”