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Fans attending the SMTOWN LIVE 2022 Suwon concert found a unique photocard sold out that no one had imagined before: SM Entertainment’s founder Lee Soo-man.
Next to the automatic Photocard AR machine was a board that showed the audience all available photocards of SM Entertainment artists. It had all the idols under the agency noted in the order of their debuts. However, a picture of Lee Soo-man was printed before H.O.T’s KANGTA.
The photocard AR machine was like a lottery slot machine that would draw exclusive photocards at random. Though netizens had mixed responses to it, what was amusing was that Lee Soo-man’s photocard sold out faster than a majority of idols’ cards.
Fans believe that it was because of NCT’s Taeyong. On the texting app, Bubble, he mentioned that he was looking for Lee Soo-man’s photocard and asked fans to “transfer” it to him.
SMTOWN LIVE 2022: Lee Soo-man’s photocard becomes a hot rage as an NCT member starts search
The latest SMTOWN LIVE 2022 brought forth a magnificent and unforgettable night for SM artists and their fans. KANGTA, BoA, SHINee, Girls' Generation, Red Velvet, NCT, aespa and even SM Rookies, the pre-debut team, took to the stage to deliver memorable performances.
There were multiple things that added to the excitement: AI filters, an LED giving fan chant lessons, a trivia quiz by KANGTA, random cover dance events and an AR photocard machine. The AR photocard machine became the highlight of SMTOWN LIVE 2022. Instead of a majority of K-pop idols’ photocards, the one photocard that got sold out was of Lee Soo-man, the agency’s founder.
NCT’s Taeyong was not far away from getting his hands on the rare Lee Soo-man photocard. The idol told fans on Bubble that he was searching for it and later posted photos on his Instagram story with the rare card in his hands.
Fans believe that Taeyong’s messages for getting a Lee Soo-man photocard was the reason behind it getting sold out.
What are photocards?
Photocards are collectible items in the K-pop industry introduced by the SMTOWN LIVE 2022 organizing company, SM Entertainment. The first-ever photocard was an idea from the agency for its second-generation girl group, SNSD, aka Girls' Generation, for their 2010 album Oh!
Photocards come in different shapes, sizes, and textures. These are exclusive photos of the idols that are included in the albums in random order. Since a K-pop group is filled with multiple members, getting one’s hands on a photocard of their bias (favorite) member’s photos is an exhilarating feeling for a fan.
The K-pop industry pumped it up with cards that have various rarity levels, such as photocards which are made in limited quantities and only given on special occasions (broadcast, streaming winners, fansigns, on-set events, pre-order benefits, etc.). They now remain a core part of the K-pop community.
