Unboxing: BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Route 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 Route version, which retails for ₩32,000 or $29.72 USD on Weverse Global.

  BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Route Version
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Route Version (Front and Back)
The Route version of the Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook comes in black with silver graphic lines in the shape of a curved door. It comes with a clear outer sleeve that has a faded black upside-down triangle graphic and the BTS name near the top. 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 112 pages. (Think of a typical high school year book.)

BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Route Version — Journey Concept(Left: V, Right: V and Suga)
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Route Version — Journey Concept(Left: Suga, Right: RM)
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Route Version — Journey Concept(Left: RM, Jungkook, and J-Hope, Right: Jungkook)
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Route Version — Journey Concept(Left: J-Hope, Right: Jin)
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Route Version — Journey Concept(Left: Jin and Jimin, Right: Jimin)
Each version of the Concept Photobook comes with completely different photoshoots. According to Weverse Shop, the Route version is meant to show "the route they take on their journey." Generally speaking, the concepts in the Route version are not as dark as the Clue version. The first concept — which I have named "Journey" — is very clean in all-white outfits and de-saturated warm tones like peach and rose. The simplicity of this concept seems very purposeful, almost vulnerable, like they're baring everything to us.

  BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Route Version — "Stage" Concept: Group
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Route Version — "Stage" Concept: RM
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Route Version — "Stage" Concept: Suga
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Route Version — "Stage" Concept: Jin
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Route Version — "Stage" Concept: J-Hope
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Route Version — "Stage" Concept: Jimin
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Route Version — "Stage" Concept: V
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Route Version — "Stage" Concept: Jungkook
The second general concept is the stage — the final destination of their "journey." Whereas the first concept was simple, clean, almost bare, this second concept is global-star-status BTS. Glitz and glam, smoky eyes, tousled hair, full of swag... (Again, that rubberized cover material is really coming in handy now.)

BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Route Version — Folded Concept Paper: "The Journey to My Completeness" (Front)
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Route Version — Folded Concept Paper: "The Journey to My Completeness" (Back)
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Route Version — Lenticular Card
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Route Version — Randomized Member Photocard (Jungkook, "Stage" Concept) and Film Card Set
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Route Version — Film Card Set
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook — Route 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.