Collecting Bae Yong Joon socks

A thousand apologies. Have been really, really busy. I mean really, really, really, really busy. Days were zooming by faster than I could say 한나, 둘, 셋. > <

Anyway, I was unpacking Kim Hyun Joong’s official goods earlier last week (which finally arrived from KeyEast. Whew!) when it striked me that these ‘official goods’ have really taken off in a big way. Nowadays you can get almost anything related to your favourite oppa/ goddess or hot drama.

From keychains to files to ear-rings to perfume… You want it, they have it and if they don’t have it now, it’s probbaly on the marketing plan and will be coming to a shopping site near you soon.

In an era where album sales are not what it used to be, artiste/ drama merchandise is a nice little addition to the money bags. And yet it wasn’t always like that. When I first started my fascination with Korean dramas, there were hardly anything that you could buy…at least not officially.

Unofficially though, it was another matter. Those street hawkers along the streets of Meyongdong had a field day. Someone somehere knew that the hordes of Korean drama-crazed tourists visiting Korea were keen to bring back a piece of Winter Sonata back home, be it a mug or a photo or a notebook. I’ve always wondered why it took so long for the officials in the TV stations, production companies, artistes management agencies to realise that this was a financially viable option.

In some ways, I do missed those ‘good’ old days. It seems more fun than to actually go Korea, roam the streets and sqeaul with delight upon finding a ‘gem’. There was more ‘kick’ and more ‘shiok’ (or maybe that was due to the kimchi? ^^) It’s not as much fun when you click on little button on your iPad in your small little room somewhere in Toa Payoh instead of Myeongdong. Believe me, the thrill of buying a ‘Winter Sonata’ poster on Jeju Island…it’s like buying a baguette in Paris versus buying a bageutte from Delifrance Singapore….it’s just not quite the same.

But when I sit down and look at my loot, I do wonder…now why on earth did I buy so many stuff? Frankly, I’ve hardly used any of the things I bought. I mean, how many mugs can I use (besides I don’t really want to dirty his face leh). And I can’t really put up posters in my room in case my girl mistakes Bae Yong Joon as her daddy. And why did I buy 3 different version of ‘Winter Sonata’? (It seems a must to buy them then) So what do I do with all these collectibles (as they are called on Yesasia site)? I put them away in boxes…and once in a very long, long, long while, I take them out…look at them…and wonder if I should just throw them out to clear the space and save me from more future cleaning. But…but..but..it seems almost sacrilege to throw his things into the rubbish bins.

Because there were very few official goods for sale then, many of the items were fanmade or marketing collaterals of the products and brands that he endorsed. Many of these fanmade items were alot more interesting and imaginative. Do any fan clubs now produce fanmade products? The items below were made by Joon’s Family for its gathering in 2005, with additional gifts from fanclubs in other countries. Nice?

About 4 years ago, I wrote an article on collectibles. Today, those collectibles have increased manyfold…in particular..there are lots and lots and lots of earrings won by the many boy band members. This pair of earrings is worn by Jung Yong Hwa in ‘Heartstrings‘ (now showing on MBC). Does it inspire you to get one? hehe!

But I’m not sure about this perfume though…Is it meant to make me smell like Big Bang (which means I end up smelling like 5 strapping youg men and I’m not sure I find that very appealing) or does it mean Big Bang likes this smell (they like coriander?) Hmmm….

BBbud My First Fragrance

With K Pop exploding currently, I guess there can only be more collectibles for the fans to collect.

Now, who wants to ‘collect’ this pair of Bae Yong Joon socks?