When ATEEZ fans stepped into the LINE FRIENDS SQUARE store in Times Square, they were instantly hit with a rush of “Adrenaline,” the kind of pulse-pounding energy that has become synonymous with the group.
Earlier this month, fans gathered in the early morning sunlight, lining the streets of Midtown in hopes of being among the first to enter the MIGHTEEZ Wonder Room POP-UP in Times Square. Inside, visitors were transported into a whimsical hideout where ATEEZ transformed into magical, superpower-wielding fairies, blending fantasy storytelling with the larger-than-life performance identity that has propelled the group to global success.
Since their debut in 2018, ATEEZ have long been masters of world-building, weaving cinematic concepts and explosive musicality into every comeback. Since last summer’s breakout Golden era, the group has continued to swing for the fences with each release, pairing thunderous performances with carefully crafted visuals and merchandise drops that send fans racing online and into stores. This time, the self-proclaimed pirate kings invited their fandom, affectionately known as ATINY, into a softer, dreamlike universe through MIGHTEEZ. It is here, in this immersive experience, that they created a love letter to the community they have built.
Fans lined up to get their hands on the ATEEZ MIGHTEEZ collection.Photo by Amanda Moses 
Photo by Amanda Moses
At the heart of the pop-up were special messages from the members themselves, Seonghwa, Hongjoong, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung, and Jongho, whose handwritten notes, plush toys, fidget keyrings, and highly coveted photocards transformed the space into a true K-Pop fantasy.
Photocards have become a staple of K-Pop culture, and for many fans, collecting those exclusive items is about far more than merchandise. It has become a ritual of connection.
Twenty-four-year-old Everlyn Bruno boarded the Staten Island Ferry clutching her “Mingyo” plush inspired by Mingi, hoping to secure a set of pop-up-exclusive photocards.
“I like collecting photocards,” Bruno said. “I really love ATEEZ as a group. They’re so compassionate in what they do. I’ve seen so many videos of how incredible they are on tour, and last year I got lucky, my friends and I got barricade. It was my first time on the floor being able to see them up close.”
Bruno smiled as she adjusted the plush hanging from her bag.
A display at the ATEEZ MIGHTEEZ pop-up.Photo by Amanda Moses 
A display at the ATEEZ MIGHTEEZ pop-up.Photo by Amanda Moses
“They’re super cute. I love the designs. They need to keep making more plushies so I can keep adding them to my bag,” she added.
For Astri Orellana, 28, the journey to the pop-up started across the Hudson River in Newark, New Jersey, where she woke up early to be first in line for the event.
“I like collecting photocards because it’s fun,” Orellana said. “You never know who you’re going to pull. ATEEZ is one of the groups where I’ve made a lot of friends through trading. My bias is Mingi, and even when some of us share the same bias, a lot of us like different members too, so it makes trading easier.”
Beyond the excitement of pulling a rare card, Orellana explained how K-pop collecting culture has fostered genuine friendships and community among fans.
“It really helps people connect,” she said. “You start bonding over ATEEZ, and then you realize you also like the same groups outside of them. Suddenly it becomes, ‘Let’s meet up at the next pop-up,’ or ‘Let’s go to the next comeback event together.’”
For many ATINY gathered in Times Square, the thrill came not just from the merchandise itself, but from the shared excitement of opening albums and trading photocards together.
Photo by Amanda Moses 
Photo by Amanda Moses
“It’s the joy of everybody opening things together and seeing who pulls their bias,” Orellana added with a laugh. “When someone pulls another person’s bias, we immediately look at each other like, ‘Okay, let’s trade.’”
As fans waited eagerly for the store to open, they danced along to hits like ‘Work’ while dressed in concert jerseys, tour shirts, and custom accessories inspired by the group. The line itself became a celebration where strangers bonded over their favorite eras, trading freebies and reminiscing about concerts while hoping ATEEZ would soon return to New York City for another explosive performance.
Beyond the colorful fantasy world of MIGHTEEZ, visitors to the LINE FRIENDS SQUARE store could also explore ATEEZ’s growing legacy through a wall of fame featuring the members’ signatures and handprints.
The successful MIGHTEEZ Pop served as a reminder that ATEEZ rise to fame has been powered not only by their musical prowess and theatrical artistry, but by the fiercely connected fandom community they continue to inspire around the world.