Fan projects that made EXO'LOVE Shot unforgettable
On 18 and 19 January 2020, EXO held its fifth full-scale fanmeeting, EXO'LOVE Shot, at Olympic Hall in Seoul. The camera-and-film concept gave the two days a cinematic identity, while the emotional force came from both sides of the stage: EXO’s performances and the remarkable preparations of EXO-L.
The official meeting was designed to resemble a production. Members moved through themed sets, appeared in films and interacted with an audience holding the group’s latest lightstick. Yet a fanmeeting is also a temporary meeting place, and supporters filled it with signs, decorations, gifts and rituals that transformed attendance into participation.
Australian fans experienced the event from several vantage points. Sydney and Melbourne clubs gathered for screenings, photo trades and dance practices before meeting near stations or tram stops. Supporters in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth followed livestreams across different time zones, sometimes beginning their morning broadcasts at an unusually early hour.
The most meaningful projects were rarely the largest purchases. They were the coordinated slogans, themed lightstick accessories, handwritten letters, cakes, goodie bags and camera-inspired artwork that made thousands of individual acts feel like one celebration.
The fifth meeting and its visual world
| Fan project | What supporters contributed | What it added to the meeting |
|---|---|---|
| Customised lightsticks | Stickers, charms, ribbons, straps and cases | Created a colourful, recognisable sea of light |
| Banners and slogans | Camera puns, lyrics, member messages and translations | Turned the audience into part of the stage design |
| Letters and postcards | Handwritten notes, drawings and member-specific cards | Added intimate messages to the grand production |
| Goodie bags and keepsakes | Small gifts, crafts and personalised items | Encouraged sharing and long-term memory |
| Fan covers and dance films | Choreography, live clips and filmed tributes | Extended the performance beyond the venue |
| Digital countdowns and archives | Fan art, set lists, reaction videos and livestream clips | Connected supporters across countries and time zones |
The official lightstick played a central role in EXO’LOVE Shot’s visual identity. Its camera-inspired appearance encouraged fans to treat it as more than a concert accessory, using stickers, fabric sleeves and handmade charms to give every copy a personal identity. Even without decorations, the coordinated colours established an immediate visual connection between the crowd and the nine members.
That visual language also connected the meeting to EXO’s wider creative world. A closer look at behind the iconic sets helps explain why the camera motif felt familiar to long-time listeners. Fan projects did not simply copy the stage; they answered its theme with their own photographs, slogans, film references and playful inventions.
Lightsticks became tiny canvases
Customisation allowed two fans carrying the same official product to display completely different identities. Some chose member colours, while others attached photocard holders, enamel pins or miniature character charms. Handmade camera straps became an especially popular detail, visually completing the EXO’LOVE Shot theme and making the lightstick look like a working prop.
For Australian supporters, the objects also carried the practical realities of international fandom. Official merchandise purchased overseas could attract GST, customs charges and delivery delays, so many club members pooled orders or bought locally through Korean retailers. Travellers checked their airline’s battery rules, packed fragile decorations carefully and often carried their lightsticks in hand luggage rather than checked bags.
Once the lights came on, individual designs merged into a single synchronized performance. Fans lifted their cameras, switched colours and followed projected instructions together. The shared motion gave every personalised accessory a place within a much larger visual composition, making the audience appear as coordinated as the performers onstage.
Messages, banners and handmade affection
EXO-L is known for turning fandom into collective storytelling, and the fifth meeting’s slogan displays offered plenty of examples. Supporters photographed banners, exchanged translations and compared messages involving “love,” “shots,” cameras and film. Some combined Korean lyrics with English wording, while others used references that would make sense only to long-running members of the community.
Handwritten letters and postcards provided a quieter form of participation. Members’ individual fans prepared notes, illustrated cards and small keepsakes, often dividing them according to personal preferences and established fanclub traditions. The contrast between the enormous screens inside Olympic Hall and a carefully written card made every contribution feel direct and personal.
Local touches appeared in Australian handmade projects too. Club members incorporated playful expressions such as “beaut” and “arvo” into their slogans, while meetup teams decorated kraft-paper parcels with koala or kangaroo motifs. These references did more than add comic relief; they placed EXO’LOVE Shot inside the daily life of the communities creating it.
Music, dance and moving tributes
Music made the fan projects especially memorable because supporters transformed the concert experience into their own rehearsal. Fan cover groups recorded songs from the EXO’LOVE Shot era, while dance teams practised formations in studios and living rooms before presenting them at meetups. Their videos, livestream reactions and call-and-response performances became unofficial tributes surrounding the official event.
The same conversation continued across online K-pop communities. Specialist publishing such as music nation five gives releases and performance culture another platform where fan interpretations can be discussed. In Australia, university Korean-culture societies, independent dance crews and K-pop radio listeners also contributed to the exchange, proving that the meeting reached well beyond formal fanclub membership.
Inside the venue, the distinction between performer and audience softened during familiar songs and fan chants. Phones rose, lightsticks moved in formation and familiar lyrics passed from EXO to the crowd and back again. These participatory moments amplified the handmade work outside the venue, giving banners, covers and choreography a shared focus.
Digital walls and the global fan archive
EXO’LOVE Shot was also shaped by projects that existed online. Fan artists made posters and countdowns, editors assembled preview videos, and international supporters translated updates for their local communities. Australian fans sometimes joined these exchanges during Sydney’s morning schedules or Melbourne’s late-night livestream sessions, keeping the conversation active around the clock.
After the event, volunteer archivists documented set lists, camera angles and memorable interactions. Their collections included reaction edits, fan recordings, multilingual summaries and photographs that might otherwise have disappeared with the temporary venue displays. By identifying original creators and preserving context, these projects protected a collective record of the anniversary.
Their importance became clearer when Australia’s border closures and the onset of COVID-19 disrupted international travel soon afterwards. Digital access had already been built before restrictions arrived, allowing distant supporters to revisit the celebration and participate in follow-up projects despite the loss of physical gatherings.
Carry the fan projects forward
Relive one of the fifth fanmeeting’s most distinctive contributions by sharing a photograph, fan-made accessory or performance recording. Credit the original creator, identify the club or event where possible and add the official EXO content so followers can enjoy both the source and the fan interpretation.
Australian supporters can continue the tradition through local watch parties, cover sessions or themed craft exchanges. Even a small project can succeed when its concept reflects the camera-and-film spirit of EXO’LOVE Shot and gives other fans a reason to participate.
Keep EXO’LOVE Shot unforgettable by carrying its fan-made spirit into the next gathering, watch party and shared celebration.