The Kpop Lightstick Guide: Official Prices, Real Sellers & How to Spot a Fake
Last Updated on August 6, 2026
Having seen a number of KPop acts over the years while living in Korea, the idea of the lightsticks wasn’t new to me. However, I was recently working on a trends project for a company and realized just how vast the KPop lightstick phenom is. I went down the rabbit hole and have found the best websites to buy Kpop lightsticks online right now.
A Kpop lightstick (응원봉, eungwonbong) is an official, group-branded handheld light that fans use to show support at concerts, most run between $30 and $90 depending on the group and version, with rare or limited editions climbing well past that.
These days, whether you’re at concerts in person or watching shows live online, Kpop lightsticks can even sync to the show so those at home can get in on the light fun too. It’s really quite amazing.
My husband, who is an indie musician here in Korea, never had this lightstick phenom, so it is definitely something unique to the KPOP industry. After we got a BTS nightlight in one of our Seoulboxes, my daughter has become really interested in these light up options that go with her favorite singers, she’s deep into Blackpink, ILLIT, and NewJeans, but IVE has become the newest obsession in our house (more on that below).
Here is a complete guide to the KPOP lightsticks from how it all started to where you can buy a lightstick online.
- What is a KPOP lightstick?
- How did lightsticks start?
- How to spot a fake (official vs. counterfeit)
- Where can I buy an official KPOP lightstick?
- Fun Facts About Kpop Lightsticks
- Popular KPop Lightsticks
- FAQ
(This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.)
What is a KPOP lightstick?
KPOP lightsticks are a unique sign that identifies different fandoms. Each KPOP group has a different stylized lightstick, and everyone from new fans to highly invested ones tries to get one. I guess that’s why you’re here, am I right?
For those who grew up heading to concert halls or outdoor lawns and watching their favorite musicians rock a stage, a lightstick might be something new… or it’ll make you harken back to when people used to raise their lighters in the air.
The lightsticks are portable devices that light up and glow, generally 15cm–20cm long, and are a fixture at concerts. During Covid, many KPOP groups used lightsticks as a way to bring fans together through online concerts even when nobody could be in the same room.
The lightsticks usually carry the group’s logo along with some unique design feature to set them apart from every other fandom’s stick. Modern Kpop lightsticks can even sync with a central control point at concerts so the whole arena lights up in coordinated colors. They’re pretty. They’re cool. And, they sync.
How did lightsticks start?
The history of Kpop lightsticks is pretty interesting. Kpop fandoms are intense, and the people in them have a huge sense of solidarity. Kpop isn’t just about the music, it’s community, friendship, and the experience. Lightsticks weren’t really around for first-generation Kpop groups and fans in the 90s, but they became a vital part of fandoms as that first generation wanted a way to show their support.
In the beginning, Kpop groups were color-coded, and fans would buy clothing, balloons, or other items in a particular color to show support. From colors, lightsticks were born, BIGBANG released the first true Kpop lightstick, the Bangbong, in 2008, and it made it easier in multi-act shows for the audience to switch and show support as needed. The largest groups of all-time
The first light sticks were just though, light on sticks and super simple. Today, they are far more complicated and can even be personalized. Lightsticks now have Bluetooth capabilities, might be charging ports, and can by synced to live concerts.
BigBang was the group that took the idea of simple lightsticks and made them something fans needed to have. With the BigBong, fans were made to hold them aloft and stand out in a sea of light. Thought the lightstick was invented by BigBang, they didn’t really become mainstream and popular until the second generation of Kpop.
While they were originally sold exclusively at concerts for fans, today, fans can find some of the best Kpop lightsticks online. Now, almost every group has a fandom with a lightstick just for them. And you can have one too.
How to spot a fake (official vs. fake)
This is the question I get the most from fellow parents trying to help their children navigate the world of KPOP and lighsticks. Counterfeit lightsticks are everywhere, they’re cheaper, they show up first in a general Amazon or eBay search, and they look close enough in photos to fool a lot of first-time buyers.
A few things that separate an official lightstick from a knockoff:
- Price is the first tell. If a “BTS Army Bomb Ver.4” is listed for $15 when the real thing runs closer to $50–$90, it’s not official. Counterfeits are cheap because they use lower-quality components and skip licensing entirely.
- Official lightsticks are sold by the entertainment company or its licensed partners, think Weverse Shop (HYBE labels like BTS, TXT, ENHYPEN, LE SSERAFIM), the group’s official site, or well-known resellers like Cokodive and KPop Omo that source directly from Korea.
- Bluetooth/app sync is a giveaway. A real lightstick with sync features will actually pair with the group’s official app. Fakes either don’t have the feature at all or use a generic light pattern that doesn’t match what the group’s app produces.
- Packaging and materials matter. Official lightsticks come with a proper manual, often a strap and dust bag, and use higher-grade ABS/PC plastic that feels sturdier in hand than the light, hollow feel of most knockoffs.
- When in doubt, check the barcode or search the exact product name plus “official”, legitimate sellers will usually reference the manufacturer (SM Entertainment, HYBE, Starship, etc.) directly in the listing.
If you’re buying for a concert where lightsticks sync to the venue’s system, a fake won’t just look worse, it flat-out won’t work. That alone is worth the extra $20–30 for the real thing.
Where can I buy an official KPOP lightstick?
There isn’t one website for lightstick shopping unfortunately. You might need to search around a bit to find the one you’re looking for. But there are some great websites with good lightstick collections. Also, if you just want one lightstick from a particular group, check out their official website first. If you want more things or options, here’s where to start your search.
KPop Omo: KPop Omo is run by die-hard KPop fans for die-hard KPop fans. With lightsticks from more than 30 groups and lightsticks from different generations, this is the website to start with on your search for KPop lightsticks among other KPop merchandise.
Cokodive: Cokodive is a trusted seller of official Kpop lightsticks and fans worldwide get lightsticks from them. They stock lightsticks from all of the top groups, are based in South Korea, but ship internationally for free.
Amazon: You might be surprised there are official lightsticks available on Amazon, but much like everything else, they are. Make sure you’ve found a trusted seller with good reviews before purchase, quite a few groups or their management have their own official shops on Amazon, so read the listing closely before buying. This is exactly the platform where the fake-spotting tips above matter most.
KPop Shop: Another great site to buy Kpop lightsticks. They have a lot of products from various groups and offer free shipping as well.
Fun Facts About Kpop Lightsticks
- Lightsticks can cost anywhere between $30 and $150 for a standard release, with rare and limited editions going well beyond that.
- In Korean, lightsticks are called 응원봉 (eungwonbong). Because the word is a bit long and difficult to say for some people, many just call them “bongs.”
- Lightstick creation is based on fandom demand, so not every group gets one, they’re generally created after a group has released one or two albums, once the label is confident the fandom is big enough to support it.
- IU’s 2019 “Love, Poem” Concert Limited Edition Lightstick is one of the most expensive Kpop lightsticks out there and can cost around $350 when in great condition.
- Not every fandom’s lightstick has a cute nickname, legacy groups like BTS (Army Bomb), TWICE (Candybong), and Stray Kids (Nachimbong) do, but plenty of newer groups’ sticks are simply sold as “Official Light Stick.”
Popular KPop Lightsticks
If you’re looking for a specific lightstick from a specific group, here’s what you need to know about them.
BTS Lightstick
As the most popular Kpop group coming out of Korea, their lightstick, or I should say lightsticks, are the most popular too. There are multiple generations of BTS lightsticks with the first introduced in 2015 and called the Army Bomb.
There have been three more and the fourth generation of the Army Bomb was released in 2020. The general design hasn’t changed much but the specifications have.
Blackpink Lightstick
The official Blackpink lightstick was released in 2018 and has two colors… you can guess what they are, right? The black and pink lightsticks have two pink lights on each side of the black handle.
New Jeans Lighstick
NewJeans, now performing as NJZ, is a South Korean girl group originally formed by ADOR, a HYBE sub-label. If you’ve seen the name NJZ floating around and wondered what happened, here’s the short version: the members split from ADOR in a messy, very public contract dispute and announced a rebrand to NJZ in early 2025. A South Korean court has since ruled against the rebrand, meaning the group remains contractually bound to the name NewJeans (and to ADOR) until 2029, even though the members themselves continue to use NJZ publicly. It’s genuinely one of the more dramatic ongoing stories in Kpop right now, and it’s worth knowing if you’re buying merch under either name, since official product listings may use “NewJeans” for legal reasons even as fans and the members themselves say NJZ.
ILLIT Lightstick
Formed by Belift Lab, a sub-label of Hybe, through the JTBC 2023 survival competition show R U Next?. The group consists of five members – Yunah, Minju, Moka, Wonhee, and Iroha. The group debuted on March 25, 2024, with the extended play Super Real Me.
IVE Lighstick
This is the one that’s currently taking over my house. My daughter has been all-in on IVE for a while, the CDs, the photocards, the whole collection, but getting her actual official lightstick was on a completely different level of exciting. It’s one of those purchases where you can watch a kid go from “I like this group” to “I am part of this fandom” in real time. She’s been noticeably more invested since it arrived.
IVE’s first official lightstick released in March 2023, and a redesigned second version followed in late 2025. If you’re buying for a young fan, this is a good “first lightstick” pick, the fandom is huge, current, and easy to shop for since both versions are still widely available.
aespa Lighstick
aespa’s first official lightstick released in July 2022, featuring a clear dome design with the group’s name displayed inside. A second version arrived in late 2025 with a more striking silhouette, a curved “e” shape with a metal “aespa” emblem, and added Bluetooth sync for concert use.
LE SSERAFIM Lightstick
Known affectionately by the fandom as the “Pimbong,” LE SSERAFIM’s official lightstick released in March 2023 with a sleek, modern design that fans felt matched the group’s confident concept. It runs on Bluetooth and syncs with the group’s official app for color changes and concert-mode features.
KATSEYE
KATSEYE, the global girl group formed through HYBE and Geffen Records’ Dream Academy, released their first-ever official lightstick in mid-2025. As a newer, multinational group with a rapidly growing global fandom, this is one to watch; expect future versions as the group’s discography grows.
BigBang Lightstick
The first ever Kpop lightstick, the Bangbong from BigBang is up to its 4th version. The first version was designed by G-Dragon and all versions similarly have a yellow crown on top. The 4th version is both a lightstick and a powerbank, which everyone needs at a concert.
They also have keychain versions, limited edition lightsticks, a light ring, and more awesome lightstick options.
TWICE Lightstick
Named the Candy Bong and the Candy Bong Z, there are two versions of the TWICE lightstick which were based on their song ‘Candy Boy’. The first stick was released in 2016 and the second was released in 2019.
The first lightstick looks like a lollipop and the 2nd version looks quite different with a black center. The light on this stick connects via the official TWICE app and can be synced at concerts to a central control and it also comes with a stand so that it can act as a mood light in your room.
Enhypen Lighstick
Formerly a joint venture between CJ ENM and Hybe Corporation, the group was formed through the 2020 survival competition show I-Land.
Mamamoo Lightstick
The Mamamoo lightstick is called the Moomoobong and there are multiple generations of this cute lightstick which looks like a radish and produces 5 LED colors.
The Moomoobong lightstick vibrates and was actually designed with disabled fans with limited hearing and eyesight in mind.
Red Velvet Lightstick
Released in 2018, the Red Velvet lightstick was the first girl group lightstick to be launched under SM Entertainment. The design is minimalist with just the groups initials on the band surrounded by a pink dome.
EXO Lightstick
The first version of the EXO lightstick was released in 2015 and the second was released shortly after in 2016. Now there’s also a third generation of the design with all being similar though their features have changed over the years. The 3rd version of the EXO lightstick has a whiter handle and a silver hexagon with the logo on the top.
Seventeen Lightstick
Called the Caratbong after their fandom CARATs, the Seventeen lightstick features a diamond in a sparkly sphere. This lightstick which uses the group’s official colors, rose quartz and serenity, is actually customizable because you can open it up.
Some of the Seventeen fans have been extremely creative to make their lightstick stand out. It is one of the most popular Kpop lightsticks on the market.
MONSTA X Lightstick
The MONSTA X lightstick is called the Mondoongie and was released in 2017 in celebration of the group’s 2nd anniversary. The handle of the lightstick is black with their logo in turquoise.
The logo changes colors when turned on and can be connected through Bluetooth.
SHINee Lightstick
The SHINee lightstick has a white handle with a blue diamond on top that looks like a microphone. The SHINee lightstick can be synced at concerts and connected through Bluetooth to your phone.
Stray Kids Lightstick
The Stray Kids lightstick is called the Nachimbong and was released in November 2019. The lightstick has a white handle with a red and silver compass that moves and reads “You make Stray Kids stay”.
This lightstick can be paired with your seat at concerts or to your phone with Bluetooth and can produce any color since it has an RGBW LED. You can find their lightstick on the official Stray Kids Amazon shop, FYI.
Pentagon Lightstick
The Pentagon lightstick is the Unibong and was released in 2017 and has a navy handle with a globe on top with their logo inside.
TXT Lightstick
The TXT lightstick is another that can sync to an app and can connect via Bluetooth. It comes with photocards and a strap too.
How to spot an official one: The first T on the handle should be yellow, the X should be green and the last T should be light blue.
ATEEZ Lightstick
Arriving in a box that looks like a pirate’s treasure chest, the ATEEZ lightstick looks like a globe with a compass and hourglass inside of it. It can be connected to your smartphone, too.
NCT Lightstick
NCT released their official lightstick in 2018 and it features a green top with the name of the group on four sides. The NCT lightstick connects via Bluetooth at concerts so that the lightsticks flash to the beat of the music.
Official NCT lightsticks have two white sides and two green sides.
FAQ
How do lightsticks sync at concerts?
Newer lightsticks connect via Bluetooth to a central system the venue or tour controls, which can trigger color changes across the entire crowd in real time ,sometimes coordinated by seat section for large-scale “map mode” effects. Older or simpler lightsticks don’t sync at all; they’re just there for you to wave.
Can I bring my Kpop lightstick through airport security or customs?
Yes, lightsticks are battery-powered handheld devices, not unlike a flashlight, and are allowed in both carry-on and checked luggage. If it uses a rechargeable lithium battery, it’s safest in your carry-on, same as any other small electronic. Loose spare batteries have their own carry-on rules, so keep those in original packaging if you’re traveling with extras.
Why do some groups have multiple lightstick versions?
Labels release new versions as a group’s fandom grows or their concept changes, usually to add features like Bluetooth, improve battery life, or refresh the design around a comeback or anniversary. Earlier versions still work and are still collected; they’re not “outdated” so much as an earlier generation.
Do I need a specific lightstick to attend a concert?
No, you can absolutely enjoy a show without one. But if the venue uses synced lighting effects, only an official, sync-capable lightstick will participate in that part of the show.
Is it OK to use a different group’s lightstick at a concert?
You can, but most fans stick to the lightstick of the group they’re actually there to see, it’s part of how the crowd visually shows up for that fandom specifically.
Where’s the cheapest place to buy an official Kpop lightstick?
Prices are fairly standardized across official retailers since they’re all sourcing from the same licensed manufacturers, but shipping cost is where you’ll see the real difference, Korea-based sellers like Cokodive often beat US-based resellers once you factor that in, especially with free international shipping.
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