K-pop 'Season's Greetings' explained: Holiday merch that's more than a gift set

Every winter, as the K-pop calendar fills with award shows and comeback announcements, another ritual quietly takes over fandom timelines — the release of a special line of year-end merchandise known as "Season's Greetings." What began as a simple holiday gift has grown into a unique K-pop tradition — a blend of pop culture and commerce that shapes how fans celebrate the season and stay connected to their favorite idols. The K-pop version of Season's Greetings generally refers to a yearly merchandise bundle, often packed with calendars, diaries, postcards and exclusive photo cards, reimagined each year around a new concept or theme that reflects a group or idol's identity. Typically released as early as October and through December, the merch bundle has come to represent a way for fans to look back on the year and step into the next one with their favorite idols. On the surface, they might seem like simple desk accessories, but in spirit, they're almost tokens of belonging. For entertainment companies, the winter merch tradition is considered a pillar of revenue. Unlike albums, whichWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times