Coffee Truck Surprises and Cup Sleeve Events

Get your masil geos 마실 것 (beverage) ready as I take you through Korea's coffee 커피 culture~

Coffee bonds and binds love and sincerity in friendship and fandom. Following Korean artists on Instagram and Twitter, I've noticed posts about their coffee trucks from friends and became curious as to their purpose. I've also accidentally stumbled upon the knowledge of a cup sleeve event when I unknowingly signed up for one and watched Angoo’s vlog.

FRIENDSHIP

JHope sent a coffee truck to Suga during his Daechwita Music Video filming, photos from BTS twitter account

Coffee truck surprises are often given by Korean artists to fellow friends in the industry as gifts, a form of congratulatory greeting and support to their chingu's 친구 work achievement. If anything, this shows us the built friendships of these artists (you'll know by their cheeky messages and photographs) and informs us of artist profiles and their current projects.

As an example, here are translations by Sel (twitter account: @BTStransaltion__) of the messages written on the following:

• Truck Banner (Elsa Yoongi): Yoongi hyung, here to save some energy <for you>. Min SUGA jjang jjang man!! –Sope's maknae Hope–

• Cup sleeve: –Sope's maknae Hope–

• Pink Standee (Army Bomb Yoongi): Coffee truck!!! Coffee truck!! Drink it all!! Coffee truck!!!!

–Sope's maknae Hope–

Coffee truck! Coffee truck!! Drink it all!! Coffee truck!!

FANDOm

To celebrate birthdays or milestones of favorite artists (Kpop idol groups and actors), fans attend and sometimes, organize their own, cup sleeve events! This is a chance for fans to connect with each other and fangirl together.

photos from pinterest

In Korea, cafe hopping has become a cultural norm, especially during BTS/ idol birthdays. Fans visit various cafes to collect cup sleeves (drink of choice) and get merchandise freebies usually consisting of photo cards, stickers, and a postcard or bookmark of their bias; sometimes even a free pastry. Other fans rent a section of a cafe or restaurant, order from the menu, put up their own decorations, and bring their own curated goodie bags to celebrate with closer friendships.

~ full on decorations for JK day~

cupsleeve freebies for Jimin's birthday

I think fan organized CSEs are much more enjoyable because they’re so detailed with their goodie inclusions and get intensely creative with the event. Here are photos of online CSEs I’ve joined thus far, celebrating BTS birthdays of V, J-hope, & Suga!☺

Resources

• Watch Angoo’s YT Vlog How To Make My Own BTS’ Birthday Plan to get a glimpse of the CSE in Korea

• Read this blog article to get ideas for when you organize your own CSE in the future.☺