Demand for official light sticks tied to BTS is surging ahead of the group’s upcoming performance, triggering shortages and sharp price increases across resale markets.
According to data from Bungaejangter, searches for BTS-related terms such as “BTS light stick,” “BTS concert,” and “BTS tickets” have ranked among the most popular this month, reflecting a simultaneous spike in interest in both concert attendance and merchandise purchases.
The surge in demand is translating directly into transactions. As of March, search volume for BTS light sticks jumped 438% from the previous month and soared 1,764% compared with a year earlier. Transaction value also climbed 136% month over month.
Supply shortages are becoming evident in the secondary market, where listings for the light sticks are often sold within about 30 minutes of being posted.
The trend is not limited to South Korea. On Japan’s resale platform Mercari, BTS light stick transactions have also been recorded, signaling growing international demand.
Prices for the official BTS light stick—known as the “ARMY Bomb”—are rising rapidly. On limited-edition trading platform KREAM, peak resale prices have reached around $230 this year, with many transactions recently occurring in the $75 to $150 range.
Trading activity is accelerating even faster than prices. KREAM reported that light stick transaction volume between March 10 and March 16 increased by approximately 513% compared with the previous week.
Industry officials say the upcoming BTS performance is driving fans to secure both tickets and official merchandise simultaneously, fueling rapid growth in the resale market.
“The combination of concert anticipation and limited supply is intensifying competition for goods like light sticks,” one industry official said. “This is pushing both transaction speed and resale prices higher.”
