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Chinese youth pay US$28 to live K-pop dream for 3 hours with public events, photo shoots

‘Obsessed’ fans of Korean entertainment genre snapped by photographers, are done up by make-up artists in immersive experience

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Young K-pop fans in China are paying US$28 to live their idol dream for three hours with public events, and photo shoots. Photo: SCMP composite/RedNote
Fran Luin Beijing

K-pop fans in China are paying for the immersive experience of being an idol for a few hours and getting closer to the dream life of their favourite stars.

Idol experience studios have sprung up in first and second tier Chinese cities in recent months.

They offer classic costumes worn by famous K-pop idols, and provide authentic-looking scenes such as production studios, signing events where the “idols” meet and greet their fans, and JYP entertainment’s famous dance practice studio with star-shaped lights on the ceiling.

The studios also provided a famous photo backdrop, the plum-coloured wall at MBC TV where many idols take portraits after taking part in the programme Show! Music Core.

The studios usually charge between 200 and 500 yuan (US$28 and US$70) for a three-hour experience.

Young K-pop fans fork out cash to preen and pose in studios like the one above. Photo: The Paper
Young K-pop fans fork out cash to preen and pose in studios like the one above. Photo: The Paper

The price varies according to the number of costumes the customer tries on and takes photos with, and whether they need to hire a photographer or a make-up artist.

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