Idol Rare Goods Compared to Luxury Apartment Complex
Prices Soar with Rarity... Up to Several Million Won
Among teenagers, phrases commonly heard in real estate communities are becoming popular. These expressions are not used only by residents of the respective apartment complexes. In fact, these terms are used when referring to celebrities' 'photocards.' Photocards, which are traded at high prices among fans, are likened to luxury apartments in Seoul.
According to the entertainment industry on the 30th, albums by singers include one random photocard each. These are cards featuring photos of idols, and photocards are often traded separately among fans.
The market price varies for each photo, with photos taken in rare concepts or those of popular members within idol groups being traded for prices ranging from tens of thousands of won to over 1 million won.
Photos traded at such high prices are given names of high-end domestic apartment complexes such as 'Trimage,' 'Banpo Xi,' 'Hannam The Hill,' and 'Signiel.'
Fans boast about specific photocards by saying things like "I have Hannam The Hill in my hand," or post messages like "Banpo Xi for transfer" on secondhand trading sites. For hard-to-find photocards, expressions similar to real estate terms like "no listings available" are also used.
Recently, a handwritten signed photocard of Jang Hao from the group Zero Base One, referred to as a 'Banpo Xi photocard' in online communities, was sold for 1.9 million won on a secondhand trading site, attracting attention.
Among some fans, there is talk of so-called 'Potech,' meaning photocard-based investment. Since albums can be purchased for 10,000 to 20,000 won and photocards sold for tens of thousands of won in profit, this is possible. Some buy relatively unpopular photocards cheaply and resell them at high prices when demand for those photocards increases, making a profit from the price difference.
Initially, photocard trading was centered around social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), but due to the high risk of fraud in the process of exchanging personal information necessary for transactions and delivery, the scope has expanded to secondhand trading platforms such as Bungaejangter and Danggeun Market.
Meanwhile, cultural critics commented on the phenomenon, saying, "The materialism among teenagers can cause serious social conflicts, so there is a need for parents' awareness to mature and for discussions at the level of related institutions."
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