Unboxing: BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Clue Version

(Warning: This post is long and extremely photo-heavy.)

BTS released two concept photobooks for Map of the Soul ON:E, which was their virtual concert event from last October (it was held in lieu of their Map of the Soul world tour, which has been indefinitely postponed). The last time they released a concept book was in 2017 for their Wings album (which is stunning), so this release is particularly exciting to me. There are two official versions of the Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — the Clue version and the Route version — that also come together in a special set. Since I'm a little ridiculous, I ended up buying both versions separately as well as the set, so I will be posting about all three of them. This is the unboxing post for the Clue version, which retails for ₩32,000 or $29.72 USD on Weverse Global.

  BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Clue Version
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Clue Version (Front and Back)
The Clue version of the Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook comes in white with silver graphic lines in the shape of a triangle. It comes with a clear outer sleeve that has a faded white upside-down triangle graphic and the BTS name near the bottom. The book itself is hardcover with the cover made in a slightly rubberized material (probably to make it slip-proof while you're drooling over the "sensuous visuals"). The size of the book is 19.6 x 25.7 cm, and includes 128 pages. (Think of a typical high school year book.)

BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Clue Version — Shadow Concept: Group
(Left to right: V, J-Hope, Jungkook, Jin, Suga, RM, and Jimin)
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Clue Version — Shadow Concept: RM
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Clue Version — Shadow Concept: Suga
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Clue Version — Shadow Concept: J-Hope
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Clue Version — Shadow Concept: Jimin
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Clue Version — Shadow Concept: V
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Clue Version — Shadow Concept: Jin
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Clue Version — Shadow Concept: Jungkook
Each version of the Concept Photobook comes with completely different photoshoots. According to Weverse Shop, the Clue version is meant to show "the clue for finding the Map of the Soul." Generally speaking, the concepts in the Clue version are a little darker. The first concept of "Shadow" actually kind of reminds me of vampires. Like, really sexy, chic, fashion-forward vampires. All black outfits, blood red background, blindfolds, black veils... As I said, sexy vampires.

  BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Clue Version — "Persona" Concept: RM
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Clue Version — "Moon" Concept: Jin
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Clue Version — "Inner Child" Concept: V
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Clue Version — "Ego" Concept: J-Hope
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Clue Version — "Shadow" Concept: Suga
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Clue Version — "Filter" Concept: Jimin
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Clue Version — "My Time" Concept: Jungkook
The second general concept is the Map of the Soul solo songs, so each member has their own specific concept based off of their own solo song. RM's concept is "Persona," Suga's is "Shadow," Jin's is "Moon," J-Hope's is "Ego," Jimin's is "Filter," V's is "Inner Child," and Jungkook's is "My Time." This section of the book includes fold-out photos for each member. (That rubberized cover material is really coming in handy now.)

BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Clue Version — Folded Concept Paper: "Facing My Inner Shadow" (Front)
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Clue Version — Folded Concept Paper: "Facing My Inner Shadow" (Back)
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Clue Version — Lenticular Card
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Clue Version — Randomized Member Photocard (V, "Inner Child" Concept) and Film Card Set
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Clue Version — Film Card Set
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Clue Version — Folded Poster
Naturally, the Concept Photobooks come with a flurry of extra goodies like all of their multimedia releases. Each Photobook comes with a double-sided folded concept paper (it's basically a poster, but comes on much thinner paper, almost like newspaper), a lenticular card, the requisite randomized member photocard, a set of film cards (made of a translucent plastic), and a huge full-size folded poster. My only qualm, as per usual, is that the poster for the single Photobooks come folded instead of rolled up. (Because WHY WOULD YOU PUT FOLDED LINES ON THEIR BEAUTIFUL FACES LIKE THAT?) Aside from that, everything — from the concepts to the photos to the boys to the packaging to the layout compositions — are gorgeous. Worth every penny. (Even with the DHL shipping and duties.) For serious ARMY collectors, the Concept Photobooks (whether you get one or both, or both and the set) are must-haves. Get them while you still can — before they're out of print and only available on eBay for ten times the retail price.