What a lightstick is and what it’s for

응원봉

By the K-Pulso team · Published October 17, 2026

A lightstick is the official glowing object fans bring to concerts to cheer on their group. In Korean it’s called 응원봉 (eungwonbong), “cheering stick”. Every group has its own, with a unique design and often a nickname the fandom has given it.

What it’s for

At a concert, the lightstick is how the audience sees and hears itself as one. Fans wave it to the beat of the music, and when everyone has one, the venue fills with lights of the same color. For the group it’s one of the most moving sights of a concert, and idols often mention it in their messages.

Outside the concert it also works as a collectible and as a way of showing you’re a fan of a group. Some people have those of several groups on a shelf.

How it works

• Colored light: most light up in the fandom’s official color, and many let you switch between several colors or patterns.
• Batteries: depending on the model, it takes batteries or recharges. It’s worth putting in fresh batteries and checking before the concert.
• Bluetooth connection: the newest lightsticks connect to the venue’s lighting system. That way, during the concert, the color and effect change on their own with each song.
• App: some need pairing from your phone with an app before the show starts. If yours does, do it early, because with a lot of people connecting at once it can take a while.

Examples of well-known lightsticks

The names and designs of lightsticks are part of each fandom’s identity. Some of the best known:

• ARMY Bomb: BTS’s, shaped like a ball.
• Hammer Bong: BLACKPINK’s, shaped like a hammer, famous for its design.
• Caratbong: SEVENTEEN’s, shaped like a diamond.
• Candy Bong: TWICE’s, shaped like a piece of candy.

“Bong” comes from the Korean bong (봉), meaning “stick” or “rod”. That’s why many lightsticks have it at the end of their name.

Rules for using one at concerts

• Bring the official lightstick of the group you’re going to see. Another group’s, or an imitation, doesn’t fit the show and some venues don’t allow them.
• Don’t wave it so hard you could hit whoever is next to you.
• Lower it when someone asks to see, especially if shorter people are behind you.
• Follow the lead of the fans and the organizers: at many concerts there are fan chants (응원법) that everyone does at once.
• Check the venue rules: what you’re allowed to bring changes from place to place.

How to look after it

• Take the batteries out if you won’t use it for a long time, so they don’t leak and damage the inside.
• Keep it in its box, away from knocks and damp.
• Clean it with a soft, dry cloth.
• If it’s second-hand, check that it lights up properly and connects over Bluetooth before you pay.

K-Pulso doesn’t sell anything: this guide is information only.

And if you can’t go to the concert

Many concerts are streamed live online, and fans watching from home light up their lightsticks too. You can also see what it’s like from the inside in the fancams of performances, or see which groups are about to return in the upcoming comebacks.

If you’re into collecting, you can also read what a photocard is. And the K-pop dictionary has more vocabulary.