Unboxing: BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook Special Set

(Warning: This post is long and 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 Special Set, which retails for ₩64,000 or $59.45 USD on Weverse Global.

  BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook Special Set (Front)
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook Special Set (Back)
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook Special Set 
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook Special Set — Route and Clue Versions
The Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook Special Set comes with both versions of the Photobook. It is packaged in a black and white outer box to match the designs of the books, so the top half is the same design as the Clue Version and the bottom half is the same design as the Route Version. Both books in this Special Set include the exact same contents as their single (or separately sold) counterparts, so I won't be posting about the individual book details, concepts, or photoshoots in this post, since I have made separate unboxing posts for both the Clue Version and the Route Version which include all of that. This post will focus solely on the extra contents of the Special Set.

BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook Special Set — Square Photo Set
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook Special Set — Photo Postcard and Randomized Member "Hologram" Photocard (Jimin)
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook Special Set — Randomized Member Photocards
(Clue Version: Jungkook, "My Time" Concept; Route Version: RM, "Stage" Concept)
The Special Set comes with a set of seven square photos (one for each member), a group photo postcard featuring the "Stage" concept from the Route Version, and a randomized member "hologram" photocard (I got Jimin!). I just want to note that Weverse Shop calls this photocard "hologram," but it's not actually a hologram. It's a regular photocard featuring one of the photoshoots in the Clue Version that has words ("Map of the Soul: Persona") shining on the members' faces, which is probably what "hologram" is referring to. So no, there are no 3D images generated by lights, but this particular photocard series is only available with the Special Set. Of course, there are still the randomized member photocards in the books themselves — I got Jungkook for the Clue Version this time, and RM for the Route Version this time — so each Special Set comes with a total of three photocards. (Basically, photocard enthusiasts can get really excited over this set.)

  BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook Set — First Press Special Poster Set — RM
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook Set — First Press Special Poster Set — Suga
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook Set — First Press Special Poster Set — Jin
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook Set — First Press Special Poster Set — J-Hope
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook Set — First Press Special Poster Set — Jimin
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook Set — First Press Special Poster Set — V
BTS Map of the Soul ON:E Concept Photobook Set — First Press Special Poster Set — Jungkook
For those who pre-ordered the Special Set, it comes with a first press special poster set. (Which come rolled up in a tube! NO FOLD LINES!!!) The set comes with one poster for each member and features the members' individual "Solo Song" concept photoshoots. Unfortunately, this is just a tease for those who did not pre-order the Special Set, because the poster set was only available for their first press run. Still, I think the set is worth every penny. If you're already considering getting both photobooks (or really cannot decide between the two because they're both STUNNING), the Special Set is the exact same price as buying both books separately — but you also get extra bonus goodies. For serious ARMY collectors, the Concept Photobooks (whether you get one or the set, or both individually 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.