Last Updated on May 18, 2024 by Eden
A kpop fan call is an opportunity to chat with your favorite idols one-on-one and chances are, you’ve probably seen at least one TikTok video of a fan meeting their bias virtually. Winning a video call event is a dream for many k-pop fans and there’s often a lot of competition for available spots.
Fan calls are a great way for international fans to connect with their favorite k-pop idols when they can’t attend a kpop concert or an in-person fan signing event.
But how does a fan call work? And how do you win one with your favorite k-pop group when there are lots of other fans angling for a spot?
Keep reading to learn how to meet your favorite idols via phone call, plus get tips on what to say if you win!
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Table of Contents
What Is a Kpop Fan Call?
A kpop fan call is an online video call between k-pop idols and their fans. During a fan call, you and the idol that you’re talking to will be able to see one another and speak directly to each other via video chat.
Kpop fan calls are different from fansign events or fanmeetings.
At a kpop fansign, k-pop fans meet with idols in person and get their albums signed. They’ll be able to sit down in front of each group member for a couple of minutes and chat while their albums are signed.
Kpop fanmeetings are a little different. During a fan meet, idols may interact with the audience, tell jokes, do some fun skits, sing, or dance. Fanmeetings can be held in person or online, while fansigns are always in person. A kpop fan call is a virtual version of a fansign.
I really can't believe that I won the SUPERKIND fan call event. I'm gonna talk with my idols soon.🙈💗 I'm gonna meet my sunshine Sio, JDV my pink Saphire, Daemon my rockstar, Geon my happy pill and Eugene my prince charming. 🥺💗Can't wait!! Happy player moment! #KPOP #SUPERKIND pic.twitter.com/4tIJPQn0HV
— Udii | The Snowflake ❄ Jay Chang 1&only #1 pick🎸 (@udiii_98) April 7, 2023
Why do kpop groups host fan calls?
Fan calls allow idols to meet with their fans virtually and have some fun interactions. During the pandemic, video calls were a chance for idols to receive love from their fans when tours and in-person fan signs were temporarily halted.
And of course, fan calls are a way to sell albums since you typically need to buy at least one album to have a chance at getting in. Each album you buy increases your chances of winning a spot.
For popular groups like Stray Kids, Ateez, or Enhypen fan call events can make a lot of money if fans are buying a large number of albums to try and get a ticket. And they can rake in even more money if they’re selling signed kpop albums, which usually have a higher price tag.
Related post: Kpop Sound Check: How Does It Work and Is It Worth the Money?
How Does a Kpop Fan Call Work?
A kpop fan call event works by allowing you to dial a specific phone number to chat with your idols through an online video call. Depending on how the event is organized, you’ll typically have one to two minutes to chat with your favorite artist.
230406 xikers everline video call
— 종호’s liz 🤍 (@juicyjongho) April 6, 2023
minjae is so good at promoting their album fr 😭 but he listens to not too late by ateez to fall asleep 🫂 we love it here pic.twitter.com/Fp9pn0TfeD
Can you choose which idol you talk to?
It depends. Group kpop fan calls might give you a chance to talk to just one group member or all of them.
- If a kpop video call is 1:1, you can choose which idols you want to talk to. With a one-on-one call, you might have more time to chat with your idol.
- If you win calls with multiple members, there may be a set order number assigned in which you talk to them. Once your call with one idol wraps up, you’ll move on to the next person. Your line ID will determine your place in the order.
Should you win a fan call spot, the event organizers send prior notice to your email address to help you prepare. The email should include:
- Date of the call (there may be different dates if you’ve won multiple calls during a weekend-long event)
- Time of the call and which member or members you’ll be talking to
- Details for accessing the video call
- Rules for what to do (or not to do)
When you’re trying to win an entry into a kpop fan call, it’s a good idea to double-check all of your personal information, including your email. Otherwise, you could miss out on a chance to meet your idols by phone if the organizers aren’t able to get in touch with you.
You’ll also need to make sure the event organizers have your mailing address so they can ship your albums. Shipping times and fees can vary based on the origin zip code and your destination zip code. Standard shipping is usually the cheapest option for international fans.
Related post: Kpop Resale Tickets: Worth Buying or Waste of Money?
How to Win a Kpop Video Fan Call
Fan call events usually follow a lottery system. For each album you buy, you’ll get one raffle entry.
The organizers will then draw names at random to decide who gets to chat with the idols. Smaller groups may sell spots to fan calls outright, without requiring you to buy an album or enter a lottery. But if you’re trying to get into a fan call for a well-known group then you’ll typically need to win a drawing.
So how do you increase your odds of having your name drawn for a fan call? These tips can help.
1. Join the group or idol’s Daum cafe or fan club
Daum is a Korean platform that k-pop fandoms use to stay up-to-date on what’s happening with their idols. So if you’re a Red Velvet fan or you stan Monsta X, you could go to the group’s Daum page or official fan club site to get notifications about upcoming fan calls, fan signs, or other fan events.
2. Follow your favorite groups or companies on social media
Kpop companies know that social media is a great way to connect with fans. Following your favorite groups or their companies on Twitter, Instagram, and other social media platforms is a simple way to keep track of when fan calls are happening and the entry requirements.
[👑]
— KINGDOM (@KINGDOM_GFent) March 30, 2023
KINGDOM x iTunes Video Call Fan-meeting Event Raffle Ends TOMORROW!
Don’t miss your chance to meet KINGDOM via Video Call 💛
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3. Know which stores offer fan signs
Buying kpop albums can help you win a spot in a video fan call, but you can’t just buy them from anywhere. For your purchase to count toward a raffle entry, you have to buy albums from specific stores.
Here are some of the top stores that sponsor kpop fan calls:
You can follow the stores on social media or visit their websites and check out individual product pages for info on fan calls. Keep in mind that you might need Google Translate to translate store pages to your language if they’re written in Korean.
4. Join Kakao Talk
Kakao Talk is a messaging app that people in South Korea can use to send messages, photos, and videos. The app also works internationally so even if you don’t live in South Korea, you could use it to get updates on fan calls and other kpop fan events.
5. Buy your albums
If you know when a fan call event is taking place that you want to try and land a spot for, the next step is buying albums. Again, you’ll need to buy them from a store that’s participating in or organizing the video call.
When you buy your albums, you’ll need to enter your personal information, including:
- Your name
- Mailing address
- Phone number
- Email address
You may also be asked for your date of birth to verify your age. Keep in mind that if you’re getting albums shipped internationally, the shipping fee might cost as much as the albums themselves.
Pro tip: Before buying a ton of albums, consider where they’ll fit into your kpop collection and if you have room for them all.
6. Wait for the winner’s announcement
Once the fan call organizers hold the drawing to choose the winners, they’ll post the list online or send a notification to your email.
If you win, you should be able to see your line ID so you know what order you’re going in. For example, if your ID number is 5 then you’ll be the fifth person chatting with your idols.
Related post: What Is Hi Touch Kpop?
How Many Albums Do You Need to Buy to Win a Kpop Fan Call?
This is the biggest question many kpop fans have with fan calls but there is no simple answer. It’s possible to win a spot by purchasing just a single album but that’s uncommon.
What usually happens is that the winners are buying lots of albums so they have more entries in the drawing to boost their chances of winning.
If it’s your first time trying to win a fan call, then buying just one album might not cut it. You may need to buy 10 albums, 20 albums, or even 100 albums to have a decent chance of winning.
And sometimes the number is even higher. Without naming fandom’s names, I’ve personally seen people talk about dropping $5,000 or more on albums to win a spot.
In some cases, they might do a group order and buy albums on behalf of other fans to get more entry tickets. However, that’s not always true,
You also have fans who have the means to spend lots of money buying 100+ albums for themselves just so they can win and brag about it on social media. So it’s important to keep that in mind when weighing how many albums you need to buy to have a good chance of winning.
Here’s a good rule of thumb to know. The more popular the group, the more albums you’ll likely need to buy.
What if you end up buying dozens or even hundreds of albums to win a fan call? You could keep them but if that’s too much clutter, you might sell unwanted kpop albums instead.
What to Do If You Win a Kpop Fan Call
If you’re lucky enough to get an online video call with your favorite idols, it’s important to know what to do to prepare.
Again, you should get an email from the organizers letting you know when the call will take place and how to dial in. Once you know when the call is happening, you can start getting ready!
Check out nashi <3's video! #TikTok https://t.co/l8RPoDz7Jb
— Ceecee ✨ATEEZ 🎶🏴☠️🔥✨ (@ceeunicahija) April 7, 2023
We can also call you “My Love” 😅
YuYu 🫠🫠🫠#ATEEZ #에이티즈 #エイティーズ@ATEEZofficial @ATEEZofficialjp #YUNHO pic.twitter.com/lPw5r24tzR
Here’s a simple checklist of things to remember ahead of a video fan call:
- Check your lighting. You want to look your best when meeting your idols so take some time to find a spot in your home with good lighting or consider investing in a ring light if you don’t have one.
- Prep your look. Of course, you want to look your best on the day of the call. If you’re planning to experiment with any new hairstyles or makeup, it’s a good idea to take them for a test run first. Your cat look makeup might seem amazing in your bathroom but fall flat when you’re face to face with your bias.
- Check your internet. The worst thing that can happen in the middle of a fan call is having the connection interrupted because of bad internet. So double-check to be sure your service is working ahead of the call.
- Decide what to say. Once you’re in front of your idols on video, it’s easy to panic and forget what you planned to say. Writing a script or making some note cards can make it easier to keep the conversation going. If you’re comfortable just letting the words flow without a script, you can do that too.
Keep in mind that there may be a translator standing by to help you communicate.
While some idols, like Jackson Wang and Choi Yoojung of Weki Meki, are fluent in English, it usually isn’t their first language. So if a translator is on the call don’t be afraid to ask for their help to keep the conversation going.
230326 applemusic 영통 fancall videocall fansign #규빈 #신규빈 #온리원오브 #KB #ShinKyubin #Kyubin #OnlyOneOf
— ava⁷ met onlyoneof😭😭😭 (@SquawkyJo) March 26, 2023
i love him💔 pic.twitter.com/Vq1zzIHHA2
Not sure what to say? Here are a few ideas:
- Ask your idols what they’re reading/watching/listening to lately
- Compliment them on what you think are their most charming points
- Read them a poem they inspired you to write
- Share some of your fan art they inspired (skip the NSFW stuff)
- Ask them a series of “Would you rather?” questions
- Ask them what their favorite food is lately
- Tell them how they’ve encouraged/inspired you
- Give them encouragement or thank them for working hard
- Simply ask them how they’re doing
Is there anything you shouldn’t ask during a fan call or fan sign?
One thing I’ve seen fans take issue with is people who essentially trauma dump on their idols during a video call. It’s one thing to tell your bias how they inspired you to make improvements in your life but it’s something different to go into detail about years of abuse you’ve experienced or a terrible event that happened to you.
You might love your idols but at the end of the day, they’re not your therapist or even your friend. Trauma dumping can make the call awkward for your idol (and get you cooked on social media–trust me, I’ve seen it happen.)
And it should go without saying, but you want to skip making comments that are racist, homophobic, transphobic, or blatantly sexual as that could get you blacklisted by the fan call organizers or the idol’s company. (Not to mention, torched by fans as this is a breach of kpop etiquette.)
Frequently Asked Questions
How much are kpop fan calls?
If you’re buying albums to enter a raffle or lottery drawing for a kpop fan call, then the cost is ultimately what you’re willing to spend. If you’re buying a spot in a fan call outright then you might pay $100 or more to have a chance to chat with your favorite idols for one to two minutes.
How long do kpop fan calls last?
A kpop fan call event can last a few hours for the group but the amount of time you spend chatting with the members is much less. It’s common for fans to have just one to two minutes with each idol which can quickly fly by.
How many times can you win a kpop fan call?
No rule says you can only go to one fan call unless you’re blacklisted by the group or the event’s organizers. And honestly, you’d have to act pretty crazy or do something really rude for that to happen. It’s not uncommon to see the same fans showing up in call events over and over because they have the money to buy lots of albums to gain more entries.
Final Thoughts
Winning a kpop fan call event can be a huge rush but it isn’t always easy. Knowing how to find out when fan calls are happening and how to enter can help you to improve your chances of snagging a spot.
Last but not least, remember to have fun!
Fan calls can be extremely difficult to win so if you get a place in line, it’s important to make the most of it. Try to relax as much as possible and enjoy yourself in the moment so you can make an unforgettable memory!
Hi My name is Odalis Rodriguez and I am a stay and I am 14 years old and I want to call skz
can mingi say hey kimberley i love you because you are my idol and i love you so so so much!!!!
hi my name is jasmine l want to see blackpink
안녕하세요 제 아이돌이 있어서 엔하이픈 영상통화 하고 싶어요 사랑해요^^
Hii I want to video chat stray kids
Hi enhypen we love you allways
I wanna meet kpop idollll