Trip Q&A
Lightstick pairing: what to do before a concert in Korea
To make an official lightstick join the show's wireless light effects, you enter your ticket's seat details in the official app and pair the lightstick with your phone over Bluetooth. The light pattern depends on the seat you register, so you need to sit in that seat. HYBE's apps say pairing opens about one or two days before the show and ask fans to finish before arriving, because the crowd at the venue can make it fail.
How pairing works
Most official lightsticks are switched to "concert mode" through the label's or maker's app. The usual flow: install the app, register the lightstick, enter the seat (level, section, row, number), and pair over Bluetooth. For reading the seat, see Reading seat labels.
HYBE apps (SEVENTEEN VER3, TWS and others)
In "Concert mode" you enter your ticket information and pair the lightstick. Pairing opens about one or two days before the show; finish before arriving, as congestion at the venue can make it fail. The app uses NFC to check ticket information, and pairing survives a battery change.
FANLIGHT apps (BTS, IVE, BABYMONSTER and others)
Enter your seat in the app and hold the button for three seconds for "Concert mode". The apps ask you to sit in the seat you registered, warning that moving can change how the lightstick performs, and mention a wireless-control support centre at the venue.
SM artists
The SMTOWN app registers the lightstick and syncs the concert seat. SMTOWN's FAQ says that once seat information is saved, the lightstick doesn't need to stay connected.
Pairing booths on the day
If it won't pair, look for the venue's pairing booth. At SEVENTEEN's fan meeting at Incheon Asiad Main Stadium in June 2026, HYBE ran an "Official Light Stick Service Booth" outside and inside the venue (2F and 5F). The BTS app also mentions on-site pairing booths.
Your phone needs battery left for the show, so a power bank helps. For data, see eSIM and mobile data.
Where to get a lightstick
How official lightsticks are sold depends on the label and the show; buy from the sellers they announce. Some shows hand them out: Jannabi's KSPO DOME concerts in October 2026 gave every ticket holder an official fanlight free. Venue merch is covered in Merch booths at Korean concerts.
FAQ
Will it light up without seat registration?
The HYBE, FANLIGHT and SM apps all rely on registered seat information for the wireless show. What an unregistered lightstick does varies by model.
Does a lightstick bought abroad work in Korea?
We found no official statement about where it was bought. Check which versions (VER2, VER3 and so on) the show supports in the official app and the show notice.
Can I swap seats with a friend?
FANLIGHT's apps warn that sitting somewhere other than your registered seat can change the light pattern, so re-register if you swap.
When can I pair?
HYBE's apps say about one or two days before (the same listing also says "several days prior"). Check the app and the show notice.
Official pages
Rules change and differ by show. Check the ticket page and the official notices for your show before you travel.