Before lightsticks became common, K-pop fans waved balloons at idols. These balloons were usually inflated in a group’s official or signature color, turning a concert audience into a visible “sea” of support.
The tradition is strongly associated with first-generation idol groups of the 1990s, especially H.O.T. and Sechs Kies. H.O.T.’s Club H.O.T. fans became known for white balloons and white raincoats, while other fandoms adopted their own colors. The color helped fans identify with a group at concerts, television appearances, and award shows.
Balloons were not the only early cheering objects: fans also used colored raincoats, banners, slogans, and simple glow sticks. However, balloons are the canonical answer to this question because they were the most recognizable predecessor to today’s official, group-specific lightsticks.
Modern lightsticks gradually replaced balloons by offering a sturdier, branded, and sometimes Bluetooth-synchronized way to create coordinated crowd displays. The underlying idea stayed the same: make fandom identity visible through a shared color and object.