Not Just Photocards: The Rare K-Pop Items Fans Are Paying an Arm and a Leg For

K-pop photocards aren't the only Korean items creating buzz on secondhand markets. From collectible merchandise and fashion to electronics, “K-secondhand” is gaining serious traction abroad—with some buyers willing to pay a premium.

According to the Korea Customs Service, Korea’s online cross-border e-commerce exports jumped by 26% in 2023, totaling $2.9 billion. Notably, secondhand and refurbished items are making up a growing portion of that figure. eBay reports that in the first quarter of 2023, secondhand and returned goods accounted for a striking 40% of all Korean cross-border sales on the platform.

K-fashion is also riding the wave. eBay noted that in Q3 of 2023, the fastest-growing category for Korean sellers was women’s fashion accessories, which saw a 90% year-over-year increase. Popular items include shoes, sunglasses, luxury handbags, and jewelry.

Meanwhile, Korean resale platform Bungaejangter (Bunjang) saw record-breaking activity in April 2023 when G-Dragon dropped a collaboration with Nike through his label PEACEMINUSONE. Major events like album releases or fashion collabs often cause surges in trading activity on these platforms, proving how deeply fan culture drives demand.

Fueled by the global K-wave, demand for K-pop goods continues to soar. In 2023, the top e-commerce exporter in Korea was Ktown4u, a retailer specializing in K-pop albums and merch, with exports totaling $93 million. On average, about 100,000 K-pop items are shipped overseas every month.

One standout example? A photocard featuring BTS’s Jimin once sold for a whopping 3 million KRW (approx. $2,100) on a domestic platform. These limited-edition photocards—often randomly included in albums—can fetch eye-popping prices depending on rarity and demand, though prices like this remain exceptional even within the K-pop fandom.

To meet this growing international interest, Bungaejangter is expanding its global reach by partnering with global commerce platforms. By syncing with systems like eBay through intermediary sellers, they’re making it easier for users to sell items overseas.

The company also operates a dedicated global service called Global Bunjang, which focuses on trading K-pop merchandise, collector goods, and branded fashion. Since its launch in July 2023, the number of users has surged 131%, and transaction volume increased 46% year over year.

Industry insiders say demand for K-pop goods in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia is especially strong. As the market grows, expect to see more platforms and delivery services rise to meet global fan demand.

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