Singapore – Fans of the K-pop boy band BTS in Singapore bought an advertisement panel at Dhoby Ghaut MRT station to celebrate the band’s sixth anniversary.
The advertisement shows all seven members of the boy band with the caption, “Happy 6th Anniversary BTS! Love from, Singapore ARMY.” ‘ARMY’ being what the BTS worldwide fan club call themselves.
According to an SMRT spokesperson, the rate for the 12-sheet ad space at Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station (Circle Line) is S$420 per week while a Bulkhead advertisement on the same line costs approximately S$100 to S$400, reported Marketing.
The ads on both platforms are required to run for at least 13 weeks.
Renting out ad space is a common gesture made by K-pop fans to express their admiration and loyalty to their favourite groups.
Ad spaces in Seoul train stations are often bought out by the fans which feature messages from the K-pop fans to their idols.
It was reported by The Straits Times that in September 2017, there was a total of 1,576 advertisements of such kind, which was an increase from 76 in 2014.
The practice is moving west as ad spaces in Times Square, New York are being purchased by K-pop fans, which only shows the popularity of the industry.
BTS and EXO are two K-pop boy bands that frequent the iconic area.
@jinpanzee wrote how grateful she was to finally “such billboards in Singapore,” when she chanced upon the advertisement.
“It’s so beautiful…the boys would be so happy,” she added./TISG
#LoveBTS_0613 ????????????
thank you for organizing this ahhh!! finally seeing such billboards in Singapore hehe???? its so beautiful uwu the boys would be so happy????✨????@BTS_twt pic.twitter.com/hUWXfFzmcv— ????130613 x 190119???? (@jinpanzee_) June 7, 2019