The world of K-pop custom albums you create and share with fans
Explore the unique merchandise culture created by the creativity and love of K-pop fans
Hello K-pop lovers, have you ever received an album from your favorite artist and thought. "If only it wasn't for this photo card..."? Or have you ever thought, "I wish they had merchandise that I designed myself"?
That's what the K-pop custom album culture is all about. This unique world of K-pop fans around the world unleashing their own creativity It's more than just merchandise, it's a new way for fan communities to communicate.
In this article, we'll teach you everything you need to know about K-pop custom albums. Drawing on our own experience and examples from fans around the world, we'll give you a practical guide to creating your own you can create your own unique merchandise.
Table of Contents
1. What is a K-pop custom album?
In 2019, a BTS fan created a customized album that garnered 150,000 retweets on Twitter. It sparked a new wave of creative inspiration for K-pop fans around the world. More than just DIY, K-pop custom albums are works of art that capture the unique DNA of Korean fan culture.
The uniqueness of Korean fandom culture
While Western fandom is primarily consumption-driven, Korean fandom is a culture of creation and sharing. Birthday support, cafe events, subway ads - custom albums are an extension of all of this.
- Global K-pop fan-made merchandise market by 2023: approximately $200 million
- Instagram #kpopcustom hashtag: 1.8 million+ followers
- The average number of times Korean fans create merchandise: 3-4 times a year
Real-world success story: "Yoonki Min's Birthday Project"
In March 2022, ARMYs around the world came together to create a custom Sugar Birthday album project. Fans from 23 countries participated, writing letters in their own languages and creating designs with local flavor. The final result was 15,000 copies of the album, which were distributed for free to fans around the world.
2. Step-by-step guide to creating your own custom album
This is a hands-on guide based on my own 3 years of experience. My first piece was a complete flop, but now I have an average of 5,000 people viewing my work per month.
Stage 1: Research and conceptualization (Time: 2-3 days)
Real-world experience: The biggest mistake I made with my first piece was not doing any trend research. I didn't know what styles of merchandise were popular right now, so I created something that didn't respond well.
Must-see research points
- Analyzing the most popular fanart styles over the last three months
- Preferred colors and design elements of the artist's fandom
- Collect 50+ existing works with similar concepts
- Analyzing K-pop fan art trends in 2025
Step 2: Core design know-how (Time: 5-7 days)
Three design golden rules learned from three years of experience
TOP 3 most used color combinations in K-pop albums: Pastel pink+lavender, black+gold, and white+silver. These combinations actually have a 40% higher engagement rate.
The key is to find a font combination that looks harmonious between Korean and English. Recommended combinations: Nanumsquare+Montserrat, Bonegothic+Roboto
Step 3: Build and polish (Time: 3-4 days)
Production details that determine quality
Criteria for selecting a print shop: After trying 12 print shops over three years, color accuracy was more important than price. Look for a company that has a difference of 51 TP3T or less between the actual RGB color and the printed result.
Actual production cost breakdown (based on 50 copies)
- Design work: $0 (create it yourself)
- Printing: 45,000 KRW (for high-quality paper)
- Post-processing (coating, cutting): 15,000 KRW
- Packaging: 8,000 won
- Total cost: 68,000 won ($1,360 per unit)
3. fully organize the tools and materials you need
Beginner vs. expert materials comparison
Beginner (Budget: $30)
- Canva Pro ($12.00 per month)
- Plain photo paper A4
- Basic Laminating Film
Result: Hobby level
Professional (budget: $150)
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Art paper 300 gsm
- UV Coated, Gold Foil
Result: Official merchandise level
Special ingredients only available in Korea
Unsplashand Pixabayis a great place to find and utilize commercially available images.
Special holographic film only available in Myeongdong and Dongdaemun. The same material used in BTS and BLACKPINK merchandise (15,000 won per meter)
You can make photo cards based on traditional hanji paper. It's especially popular with overseas fans. (25,000 won for 50 cards)
About trusted vendors
Caution: When purchasing online, the actual color may vary. If possible, we recommend seeing the color in person at an offline store before purchasing.
What to look for when choosing a vendor
- Check your minimum order quantity (usually starting at 50 copies)
- Whether color correction services are available
- After-sales and remanufacturing policies
- Delivery time (usually 3-5 days)
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