K-pop Album Pre-orders from Korea 2026: Charts, POBs, Ordering

Korean album stores open pre-orders (예약판매, yeyak panmae) a few weeks before a K-pop release, and many add their own pre-order benefit, usually an unreleased photocard. Several of these stores, including Weverse Shop, Aladin and YES24, ship abroad themselves, so check direct shipping first. Use a buying service when the store or benefit you want does not ship to your country.

This guide explains how pre-orders work in Korea, how Hanteo and Circle charts count album sales, what albums cost in won, and how to order from abroad.

Quick facts
Korean term	예약판매 (yeyak panmae, pre-order sale)
Typical album price	About ₩20,000 to ₩25,000 list for a standard version, before store discounts (as of October 2026)
Limited versions	Can cost far more, and pre-order windows can close early
Store pre-order benefit	Often a store-exclusive unreleased photocard (미공개 포토카드, migonggae potokadeu)
First-week sales	Called 초동 (chodong); Hanteo is the only Korean chart that provides it in real time
How Hanteo handles pre-orders	Retailers process pre-orders separately; sales are reflected when invoices are issued around release
Weverse Shop	States that all albums it sells are 100% reflected in Hanteo and Circle album tallies
Ships abroad directly	Weverse Shop (by product), Aladin (EMS, DHL, UPS), YES24 Global (EMS, DHL), Withmuu (English pages)

How do K-pop album pre-orders work in Korea?

When an agency announces a comeback, Korean retailers open a pre-order window. Fans pay in advance, and the store ships around the release date.

A typical timeline:

1. Announcement. The agency posts the comeback date, album versions and contents.
2. Pre-order opens. Stores list the album with its release date and pre-order period. On Aladin, for example, listings show the pre-order window in Korean time, such as "예약판매 기간: 2026/9/23(수) 11시 ~ 10/5(월) 23시 59분(KST)."
3. Store benefits are announced. Each store posts its pre-order benefit (POB) and any lucky draw or fansign event.
4. Release day. Albums arrive at stores from the distributor and start shipping.
5. First week. The first seven days of sales after release, 초동 (chodong), are what fans watch on the charts.

Two things often surprise overseas fans.

Limited versions close early. On Aladin, MONSTA X's EP "The Phase" had a limited "MX-0514 Table Clock ver." with a pre-order window of September 23 to October 5, 2026, for a November 2026 release. When we checked on October 15, that version showed "예약판매가 종료되었습니다" (pre-order sale has ended). Regular versions of the same EP were still on sale.

Shipping dates can move. The same Aladin listing warns that the actual shipping date can come later or earlier than planned, depending on production. Pre-order dates are targets, not guarantees. Our Korean pre-orders guide explains delays and cancellations in more detail.

How much do K-pop albums cost in Korea?

Prices vary by version. Here are examples from Aladin on October 15, 2026, all as of October 2026.

Album and version	List price	Aladin price
MONSTA X EP "The Phase" (OFFSET ver.): photobook 88 p, CD-R, 2 random photocards	₩24,900	₩20,800 (16% off)
MONSTA X EP "The Phase" (PHASE ver.): envelope, CD-R, 15-print photo set, photocard, poster	₩23,200	₩19,300 (17% off)
MONSTA X EP "The Phase" (Table Clock ver., limited): outbox, desk clock, mini CD-R, photocard set	₩74,400	₩62,000 (17% off), pre-order closed
ifeye EP 3 "As if" (Photobook ver.), April 2026, with Aladin unreleased photocard POB	₩19,600	₩16,300 (17% off)

On Weverse Shop, standard albums are often listed with a tax-included won price. For example, the Agust D "D-DAY" (Random) page showed ₩18,500 tax included.

Three patterns are worth knowing:

• Bookstores discount. Aladin, YES24 and Kyobo often show a discounted price below list.
• One album, many versions. Photobook, envelope, jewel case, digipack and platform (QR) versions differ in price and contents.
• "Random" means random. A "(Random)" album ships one version at random, and photocards inside are random members too.

What do the Korean listing words mean?

Korean album listings pack a lot into one line. These are the words you will see most often:

Korean	Romanization	Meaning
예약판매	yeyak panmae	Pre-order sale
예약판매 종료	yeyak panmae jongnyo	Pre-order closed
한정반	hanjeongban	Limited edition version
랜덤 / 랜덤발송	raendeom / raendeom balsong	Random / ships a random version
포토북	potobuk	Photobook
포토카드	potokadeu	Photocard
특전	teukjeon	Store benefit (POB)
별도증정	byeoldo jeungjeong	Given separately, outside the album
초도 한정	chodo hanjeong	First press only
출고	chulgo	Dispatch from the store

If a listing says 랜덤발송 and you want every version, look for separate listings per version or a set listing. Ordering three random copies does not guarantee three different versions.

What are pre-order benefits (POBs)?

A pre-order benefit, often shortened to POB, is an extra item a store gives with the album during the pre-order or early sales period. In Korea it is usually called 특전 (teukjeon, special benefit).

On Aladin's pre-order page in October 2026, listings showed benefits like "알라딘 특전 미공개 포토카드 ... 별도증정" (Aladin-exclusive unreleased photocard, given separately), a 5-card photocard set, or an "초도 한정 특전" (first-press-only benefit). Each store designs its own, which is why fans compare stores before ordering.

Things to know about POBs:

• They are per store. An Aladin photocard is not the same as a Weverse Shop or YES24 photocard.
• They are limited. Most are given while stock lasts or during a set period.
• They are often random. "5종 중 1종 랜덤" means one random card out of five designs.
• They can be separate from the album. "별도증정" means given separately, usually inside the shipping box.

Our K-pop pre-order benefits guide compares which stores give what.

How do Hanteo and Circle charts count album sales?

Korea has two album sales charts. The Fact described them in July 2026 as the only two album aggregation bodies in Korea.

Hanteo Chart

Hanteo is run by Hanteo Global. According to The Fact, it built a real-time counting system and is the only company providing 초동 (first-week sales) data, defined as sales in the first week after release.

Hanteo counts sales reported by its partner retailers, often called "Hanteo family" stores. In a 2018 statement quoted by Soompi, Hanteo said its system is automatically linked to each partner retailer, that before an album's official release each retailer processes pre-order sales separately, and that those sales are then turned into invoices or store receipts that are reflected on the chart. So a pre-order placed weeks early generally shows up around release, not on the day you pay.

Circle Chart

Circle Chart, formerly Gaon, publishes weekly, monthly and yearly album charts, and certifies albums. Soompi reported in November 2025 that, for music released from January 1, 2018, Circle certifies albums platinum at 250,000 sales, with double platinum at 500,000 and a "million" certification at 1,000,000.

Because the two charts collect data differently, the same album often shows different numbers on each.

Which stores count?

Each store says this on its own pages. Two examples we checked:

• Weverse Shop product pages state: "위버스샵에서 판매 되는 모든 음반은 100% 한터차트, 써클차트 음반 집계에 반영 됩니다" (all albums sold on Weverse Shop are 100% reflected in Hanteo and Circle album tallies).
• Aladin album pages state: "알라딘은 한터패밀리로, 상품 구매 시 한터차트에 반영됩니다" (Aladin is a Hanteo family store, and purchases are reflected on the Hanteo chart), and that purchases are reflected in Circle chart sales counts. Our Aladin store guide covers the store in more detail.

If chart counting matters to you, buy from a store that states it reports to the chart, and read the specific product page. We cannot promise how a chart treats any individual order.

Can you pre-order K-pop albums from Korea directly?

Often yes. Check these before using any middleman.

Store	Ships abroad itself?	What we found
Weverse Shop	Yes, for products that allow it	You set language, currency and shipping country; whether an item ships to you shows after login
Aladin	Yes	Its shipping guide lists EMS, DHL and UPS; UPS to the Americas was marked suspended due to customs issues; CDs may be restricted depending on the method
YES24 Global	Yes	Its FAQ lists EMS and DHL; pre-order status and release date are on the item page
Withmuu	Yes, from English pages	Its English guide names EMS as the designated courier; see our Withmuu guide

So when do you need help? Usually in these cases:

• The store's POB or version is only on its Korean page, or the product does not ship to your country.
• The store needs a Korean phone number for 본인인증 (bon-in injeung, identity verification) or a Korean card.
• You want albums from several stores, plus other Korean items, in one parcel.
• You want photos of what arrived before it leaves Korea.

	Buy direct	You buy, we ship (package forwarding)	We buy for you (HaulKorea)
Korean account and phone	Sometimes needed	Usually needed	Not needed
Korean card	Sometimes needed	Usually needed	Not needed, pay by PayPal
Store-only POBs on Korean pages	Only if the store ships them to you	Yes	Yes
Several stores in one box	No	Often	Yes
Photos before shipping	No	Depends on the service	Yes, inspection photos
International shipping	Store's own rates	Paid separately after weighing	Included in one total before you pay

Fansign and lucky draw events are a different matter. Each store sets its own entry rules, and this guide covers buying the album itself, not event entries. Read the event notice on the store's page before you count on one.

How to pre-order a K-pop album from Korea with HaulKorea

1. Find the listing. Copy the product page link from the Korean store, such as Weverse Shop, Aladin, YES24 or Kyobo. If the store has several versions, copy each version's link.
2. Check the pre-order window. Note the end date in Korean time (KST). Send your request well before it closes, especially for limited versions.
3. Send us the links. Include quantities and which versions. If an album is "Random," say whether you want one or a full set of separate versions where the store sells them separately.
4. Get one total and pay. HaulKorea shows the album price, Korean delivery and international shipping in one figure, paid once with PayPal. If the actual weight is lower than estimated, we refund the shipping difference. There is no second charge.
5. We place the pre-order in Korea. Then we wait for the store to ship around release.
6. Check inspection photos. When the albums reach our Korean warehouse, we send photos so you can confirm the version, the sealed condition and the POB.
7. Combine and ship. If other pre-orders are due soon, we can hold albums and ship them together. See how combining orders works.

Customs and shipping for albums

Weight adds up. Photobook versions are heavy. Aladin lists the MONSTA X "The Phase" OFFSET version at 400 g. A single album is light enough to ship cheaply, but five photobook versions plus a Season's Greetings box make a large parcel.

Several boxes or one? Combining saves on per-parcel costs, but holding a box until every pre-order arrives means waiting for the latest release date. Decide which matters more to you.

United States. CBP says that from August 29, 2025, goods from all countries valued at $800 or less lost duty-free de minimis treatment and are subject to applicable duties, taxes and fees. The recipient pays these US charges locally when the parcel arrives, along with any carrier clearance fee. CBP's guidance on internet purchases says the importer is ultimately responsible for paying any duty owed. HaulKorea's total covers the item, Korean delivery and international shipping only. YES24 Global's FAQ also notes a tariff change for US-bound goods from the same date.

Other countries. The recipient also pays local VAT, GST or duty on arrival. Large orders of identical albums can look commercial to customs, so check your country's rules for bulk.

Batteries. Albums themselves are fine. Some limited versions include electronics. The MONSTA X Table Clock version, for example, includes a desk clock. Items with batteries follow separate carrier rules, so ask us before you order anything with a battery.

Tips for smoother album pre-orders

• Watch KST. Korean pre-order windows end at a set Korean time, often 23:59 KST.
• Read the contents line. Korean listings spell out what is inside: 포토북 (photobook), 포토카드 (photocard), 포스터 (poster), 스티커 (sticker).
• Separate benefit from album. "특전" or "별도증정" means the store's extra, not the album's own inclusions.
• Plan around Season's Greetings. Year-end calendars and diaries go on pre-order in the autumn. See our Season's Greetings 2027 guide.
• Keep expectations on random items. No store can pick a specific member's card for a random photocard.

FAQ

What does 예약판매 mean on a Korean store?

It means pre-order sale. You pay now, and the store ships the album around its release date. Listings show the pre-order period and expected shipping date, and stores warn that production can move the date.

Do pre-orders count on Hanteo?

According to Hanteo's own explanation, retailers process pre-orders separately before release, and those sales are turned into invoices or receipts that are then reflected on the chart. In practice, pre-orders from Hanteo partner stores show up around release rather than on the day you pay.

Which Korean stores count toward Hanteo and Circle?

Each store states this on its pages. Weverse Shop says all albums it sells are fully reflected in Hanteo and Circle tallies, and Aladin describes itself as a Hanteo family store. Check the product page of the store you choose.

How much is a K-pop album in Korea?

As of October 2026, standard versions are usually around ₩20,000 to ₩25,000 list before discounts. On Aladin, MONSTA X's "The Phase" OFFSET version was ₩20,800 after a 16% discount. Limited versions can cost much more.

What is a POB in K-pop?

POB means pre-order benefit, called 특전 (teukjeon) in Korean. It is usually an unreleased photocard or photo set given by a specific store during pre-orders or while stock lasts. Each store's POB is different.

Can I pre-order directly from Korean stores from abroad?

Often yes. Weverse Shop ships many products abroad, Aladin lists EMS, DHL and UPS, YES24 Global lists EMS and DHL, and Withmuu sells through English pages. A buying service helps when a version or POB will not ship to you or the store needs Korean verification.

What happens if a pre-order is delayed?

The store ships later, and your order waits at our Korean warehouse if you asked us to combine it with others. Korean stores note that production can push dates back or forward.

How heavy is a K-pop album to ship?

It depends on the version. Aladin lists the MONSTA X "The Phase" OFFSET version, a photobook album, at 400 g. Several photobook versions plus a Season's Greetings box add up quickly, so one combined box usually makes more sense than many small parcels.