aespa 'Armageddon' pop-up brings band's virtual world to life

K-pop

Published: 29 May. 2024, 18:43 Updated: 30 May. 2024, 09:50

aespa 'Armageddon' pop-up brings band's virtual world to life

aespa's ″Armageddon: The Mystery Circle″ pop-up store in Seongdong District, eastern Seoul [DANIELA GONZALEZ PEREZ]

aespa is heavily invested in its fictional universe — its four members gained superpowers in their “Supernova” music video and met themselves in an alternate reality in their latest album, “Armageddon.” The girl group's new pop-up store, “Armageddon: The Mystery Circle,” invites fans to experience that virtual world in real life.

aespa's ″Armageddon: The Mystery Circle″ pop-up store in Seongdong District, eastern Seoul, near SM Entertainment’s headquarters, is open until June 9. [DANIELA GONZALEZ PEREZ]

“Armageddon: The Mystery Circle” is open from Monday to June 9 at the building Wangsimni-ro 121, located in Seongdong District, eastern Seoul, near SM Entertainment’s headquarters. The venue is easy to locate, as the three-story building, decorated with massive posters of aespa, is directly visible from exit 8 of Ttukseom station.

The first section of the exhibition features a damaged car, broken side mirror and lamppost with ropes — are of which all recreated elements of the “Supernova” music video. The second room is filled with mirrors, displays and surveillance cameras, invoking the dystopian themes of “Armageddon.”

The first section of aespa's "Armageddon: The Mystery Circle" pop-up store features recreated scenes from aespa's "Supernova" and "Armageddon."[CHO YONG-JUN]

The exhibition also features handwritten messages and autographs from Karina, Giselle, Winter and Ningning that fans are encouraged to find and photograph.

The first section of aespa's "Armageddon: The Mystery Circle" pop-up store features recreated scenes from aespa's "Supernova" and "Armageddon."[CHO YONG-JUN]

Fans can also take four-cut photos and short-form videos with the four members of aespa — virtually inserted — in a dedicated shooting area.

Fans can take special four-cut photos featuring the four members of aespa at the “Armageddon: The Mystery Circle” pop-up store. [CHO YONG-JUN]

The second floor of “Armageddon: The Mystery Circle” is filled with aespa merchandise, ranging from physical albums to T-shirts, photocards, necklaces and aespa-branded combs.

Also on display were "CD player edition" copies of "Armageddon" — which comes, as its name implies, with a physical CD player. The album saw an extremely positive reception from K-pop fans upon its unveiling and is, unfortunately for hopeful shoppers, currently sold out.

The special CDP edition of aespa's "Armageddon" album on display at the “Armageddon: The Mystery Circle” pop-up store [CHO YONG-JUN]

The exhibition itself requires no reservation, but fans must reserve a time slot in advance online to purchase merchandise.

The special CDP edition of aespa's "Armageddon" album on display at the “Armageddon: The Mystery Circle” pop-up store [CHO YONG-JUN]

The entrance to aespa's "Armageddon: The Mystery Circle" pop-up store in Seongdong District, eastern Seoul, near SM Entertainment’s headquarters [CHO YONG-JUN]