Last updated: 4 October 2026.
In short: Carrying a real Pokémon card behind a clear phone case has become one of 2026's most visible K-pop trends. It took off in July, when TWICE's Momo was photographed at Incheon Airport with a 2003 Japanese Suicune ex (027/080) in her phone case, a card she had taken out of its PSA 9 slab. Fans soon spotted Nayeon with a card in her case too, and idols from BLACKPINK, BTS, ITZY and TWS have all shared their favourite Pokémon. In Korea, Pokémon cards have now overtaken K-pop photocards as the most traded collectible on one major resale app.
How the trend started: Momo's Suicune ex
On 19 July 2026, TWICE's Momo was photographed at Incheon International Airport with a Pokémon card visible behind her transparent phone case. Collectors quickly identified it as Suicune ex, 027/080, from the Japanese expansion Magma vs Aqua: Two Ambitions (released 24 October 2003; in English it became EX Team Magma vs Team Aqua).
Korean media reported the card's PSA 10 market price at around ¥348,000 (about ₩3.2 million). On 24 July, Momo posted selfies on Instagram holding the card to her cheek, along with a clip showing the empty PSA holder it had come from. The card had been graded PSA 9, and she had opened the slab to fit the card into her phone case.
Photo: Momo (@momo) / Instagram
Fans also noted that Suicune is a long-time favourite of hers, so the choice was personal rather than a status symbol. Nayeon's reply under the post, "Steal the card", was widely shared.
Nayeon joins in
A few weeks later, fans posted photos of Nayeon with a Pokémon card in her own phone case. Fans identified it as the Shibuya Pikachu promo, released for the opening of Pokémon Center Shibuya, a Japan-only card. She has also shared a selfie with a holo Pikachu from the Japanese Pokémon GO set. On 20 August, both members appeared on fighter Choo Sung-hoon's YouTube channel, where he gave them Pokémon card packs as a birthday gift. Nayeon pulled a shiny SR and shouted "It's shiny! SR!", while Momo, talking about her own collection, admitted, "I paid a lot for this."
Photo: Nayeon (@nayeonyny) / Instagram
Other K-pop idols and their favourite Pokémon
Momo is not the only idol who loves Pokémon. Below are the favourites other stars have shared publicly, with Japanese cards that collectors often look for if they want to match them. The card suggestions are our own picks, not cards the idols are known to own.
| Idol | Favourite | Where it came from | Japanese cards to look for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Momo (TWICE) | Suicune | Carried a Suicune ex 027/080 in her phone case, July 2026 | Suicune ex 027/080 (2003) and other Japanese Suicune holos |
| Jisoo (BLACKPINK) | Eevee | Pokémon 30th anniversary Super Bowl commercial, February 2026 | Cards from the Japanese Eevee Heroes set and Eevee promos |
| RM (BTS) | Pikachu, Psyduck | Pikachu hats and goods on tour; Psyduck hat at PokéPark Kanto, April 2026 | Japanese Pikachu promos (Mario, Luigi, Poncho) and Munch Psyduck 286/SM-P |
| V (BTS) | Psyduck, Snorlax | Psyduck hat and photos with Snorlax at PokéPark Kanto, April 2026 | Munch Psyduck 286/SM-P and Japanese Snorlax promos |
| Nayeon (TWICE) | Pikachu | Shibuya Pikachu promo in her phone case, 2026 | Shibuya Pikachu promo and Pokémon GO Pikachu |
| TWS | Charizard | Showed off Mega Charizard ex pulls on Instagram | Mega Charizard X ex full arts from the Japanese Inferno X set |
| Lia (ITZY) | Snorlax, Eevee | ITZY's Pokémon campaigns in Asia, 2022 | Japanese Snorlax and Eevee cards |
| Chaeryeong (ITZY) | Eevee | ITZY's Pokémon campaigns in Asia, 2022 | Cards from Eevee Heroes and Eevee promos |
Jisoo (BLACKPINK): Eevee
Jisoo appeared in Pokémon's 30th anniversary commercial during the Super Bowl in February 2026 and chose Eevee as her favourite. She said Eevee resembles her a little, and that she likes how it can evolve into many different forms. The Pokémon Company also launched a Jisoo merchandise line in Japan on 28 February 2026, citing her love of Eevee.
RM and V (BTS): Pikachu and Psyduck
RM's love of Pokémon is well known among fans. He has worn Pikachu hats backstage on tour and shared a Lego Pikachu visor on Instagram in August 2026. After BTS's Tokyo Dome concerts in April 2026, both RM and V visited PokéPark Kanto wearing Psyduck hats; RM posed with Psyduck statues, and V took photos with Snorlax. In December 2024, fans also shared RM's post celebrating a crown-rarity Pikachu he pulled in the Pokémon TCG Pocket app.
ITZY: Snorlax and Eevee
ITZY has worked with Pokémon on several campaigns in Asia, including the Pokémon Trading Card Game, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Pokémon UNITE and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. During the 2022 campaigns, Lia named Snorlax and Eevee as her favourites, and Chaeryeong chose Eevee.
TWS: Mega Charizard ex
Members of TWS have joined in too. The group's official Instagram shared a photo of two members proudly holding up full-art Charizard cards, including a Mega Charizard X ex from the recent Japanese Inferno X set. Mega Charizard X ex is one of the most chased cards of the Mega Evolution era.
Photo: TWS (@tws_pledis) / Instagram
Kangnam: Pikachu promos and Tokyo shopping
Kangnam, a former member of the group M.I.B, is one of Korea's most visible celebrity collectors. His collection was reported at about ₩200 million and includes a Luigi Pikachu promo and a 20th Anniversary Pikachu. In May 2026 he filmed a card-shopping trip in Akihabara, Tokyo, spending about ₩50 million on boxes and singles in one day.
Why it matters: cards are overtaking photocards
The idol moments line up with a wider shift in Korea. According to Bunjang, one of Korea's largest second-hand marketplaces, collectible transactions doubled from ₩9 billion in January 2025 to ₩18 billion in August 2026. Pokémon cards grew 7.6 times over the same period, make up 47.1% of trading card transactions on the app, and have passed K-pop photocards as the most traded IP. Buyers in their 20s are the largest group by number of purchases.
The habit makes sense for K-pop fans. Fans have long carried photocards ("pocas") of their favourite member behind a clear case. A Pokémon card fits in the same space, and it says which Pokémon you love, the same way a photocard says who your bias is.
How to choose a card for your phone case
- Start with a Pokémon you love. Momo chose Suicune because she likes Suicune, not because of the price. That is why the photo worked. If you share a favourite with your bias, such as Jisoo's Eevee or RM's Pikachu, that works too.
- Japanese cards stand out. Japanese printings often have different finishes, promos and set exclusives that are not available elsewhere. Vintage Japanese holos from the 2000s, Pokémon Center promos and modern illustration rares (AR, SAR, SR) all look good behind a clear case.
- Match the card to how you will use it. A phone case is a tough place for a card. Choose a copy whose condition you are happy to wear down, not the best copy you own.
How to carry a card safely
- Sleeve it first. Put the card in a thin penny sleeve before placing it in the case to reduce scratches and edge wear.
- Watch the heat. Wireless and MagSafe charging warm the back of the phone. Over time, heat can bend or cloud a card. Take the card out, or use a case with a separate card pocket, if you charge wirelessly.
- Limit sunlight. Direct sunlight can fade inks. Clear cases also yellow over time, which affects how the card looks.
- Think before cracking a slab. If the card is high grade and high value, consider carrying a second copy instead.
Frequently asked questions
Which Pokémon card does Momo have in her phone case?
A Japanese Suicune ex, 027/080, from Magma vs Aqua: Two Ambitions (2003). It had been graded PSA 9 before she removed it from the slab in July 2026.
Which K-pop idols love Pokémon?
Well-known fans include Momo and Nayeon (TWICE), Jisoo (BLACKPINK, Eevee), RM and V (BTS, Pikachu and Psyduck), Lia and Chaeryeong (ITZY, Snorlax and Eevee), and TWS (Mega Charizard ex). Kangnam, formerly of M.I.B, is one of Korea's most active celebrity card collectors.
Can I buy the same Japanese card from overseas?
Yes. Many of these cards are easiest to find in Japan. You can browse cards in our Ready to Order collection, or ask us to find a specific card through our private sourcing service. If you want the card graded first, see Buy & Grade.
Prices mentioned are reported market references at the time of writing and change frequently. Tokyo Card Concierge is not affiliated with the artists or agencies mentioned. Tokyo Card Concierge is operated by Spacial Ltd., Tokyo, Japan.