⏱ The timeline at a glance
- Comeback announcement (D-30) — Agency confirms the album. Some retailers also announce LD partnership in the same press cycle.
- Pre-order window opens (D-21 to D-7) — All four official retailers + LD-running retailers list the album. Each has different POB sets.
- LD entry window (typically D-21 to D-1) — Buy from a participating retailer; entries are typically capped per account or by phone number.
- Album release (D-Day) — Album ships. Hanteo / Circle counts begin.
- LD draw (D+1 to D+30)— Retailer randomly selects winners from the entry pool. Winners notified via SMS or retailer's site.
- Winner claim window (typically 7–14 days) — Winners claim by submitting Korean shipping address. Miss the window → forfeit.
🎯 Odds reality check
Retailers don't publish exact odds. Reverse-engineered from community reports:
| Tier | Group example | Odds | Resale floor |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | BTS, BLACKPINK, NewJeans | 1 in 100–250 | $80–500 |
| A | aespa, IVE, LE SSERAFIM, SEVENTEEN | 1 in 50–150 | $50–250 |
| B | ENHYPEN, TXT, ITZY, BABYMONSTER | 1 in 30–80 | $30–120 |
| C | Newer or smaller groups | 1 in 15–40 | $15–60 |
High S-tier odds reflect that everyone is bidding. Lower-tier groups have better odds because fewer buyers participate, but resale floor also drops.
🌏 Why global fans can't enter directly
- Korean phone number required for SMS verification + winner notification (most LD retailers).
- Korean payment method — domestic credit card or bank transfer; international cards often rejected.
- Korea-only shipping address for winner claim. No international shipping for LD-won cards.
- Account-level entry caps tied to Korean ID/phone.
🤝 Proxy strategies (in order of cost)
1. Friend-in-Korea proxy (free)
When: You have a friend or family in Korea who's willing to enter on your behalf.
Risk: Friendship strain if there's a logistics or money issue. Only viable for low volume.
Cost: $0 + cost of returning card to you
2. Community proxy networks (low cost)
When: Discord/X-based volunteer proxies. Cheaper than commercial.
Risk: Trust risk — vet the proxy via prior feedback. Some volunteers vanish.
Cost: $3–10 commission + KRW domestic shipping + international shipping
3. Commercial proxy services (mid cost)
When: K-Town, Korean Buddy, Acommerce, AvocaShop. Established pipelines.
Risk: Service fees stack up; some have winner-claim delays.
Cost: $10–25 service fee + 5–10% transaction commission + shipping
4. Official LD partner with global lane (rare)
When: A few retailers (Music Plant occasionally) accept international cards on specific events.
Risk: Inconsistent — only available on select comebacks.
Cost: Same as direct buyer + ~$15 international shipping
💸 Real cost calculation example
Goal: Enter Stray Kids LD on Music Plant, BR resident, via commercial proxy
- Album price: ₩22,000 (~$16 USD)
- Korea domestic shipping to proxy: ₩3,000 (~$2)
- Proxy service fee: $15
- Proxy commission (8%): ~$1.5
- International forwarding (Korea → Brazil EMS): ~$25–35
- BR ICMS state tax: ~17% on declared value
Total: ~$70–90 USD, with ~1 in 80 odds of winning a ~$80 LD card. Expected value depends on resale demand.
✅ Pre-launch checklist (before next comeback)
- Identify retailers running LD for your bias group (this guide's sister index lists them).
- Set up proxy account or community contact 7+ days before pre-order opens.
- Watch the agency's Weverse / Bubble for LD announcement timing.
- Prepare KRW funds — proxies usually charge in KRW for the album cost.
- Set Korean SIM-style 2FA if your proxy requires it (rare; check first).