Photocard glossary: K-pop collecting terms explained
K-pop photocard collecting has its own language, and the first trading post you read can feel like a code. PC, poca, POB, WTT, “pulled my bias”: it makes sense quickly once someone explains it. This glossary collects the words you will see most often, with short definitions you can come back to.
How to use this glossary
The 20 terms are listed alphabetically in the glossary section of this page. Each definition is written to stand on its own, so you can jump straight to the word you just saw in a post or a comment.
The terms fall into a few groups:
| Group | Terms |
|---|---|
| The cards | photocard (PC, poca), album version, unit, POB, lucky draw, pull |
| The people | bias, bias wrecker |
| Protecting and showing | sleeve (penny sleeve), toploader, binder, deco |
| Fan events | freebies, cupsleeve event, birthday cafe |
| Trading | WTS / WTB / WTT |
| Making your own | bleed, crop marks, die-cut sticker, holo |
If you are completely new, start with what a photocard is: it explains the size, where cards come from and why fans trade them.
Reading a real trading post
Most trading posts follow a pattern: what you have, what you want, and how you want to do it. Here are a few typical examples, and what they mean.
“WTT: Jun’s POB PC for any version of Min’s album PC. Prefer Min.” The poster wants to trade a pre-order benefit photocard of one member for an album photocard of another. They will accept any album version, but they have a favorite.
“WTB my bias’s lucky draw PC, will pay shipping. Sleeved + toploader please.” They want to buy a lucky draw photocard of their favorite member and ask the seller to ship it in a sleeve and a toploader.
“Pulled my bias wrecker again… WTT for my bias, same unit album.” They opened an album, got a card of the member who keeps distracting them, and want to swap it for their favorite from the same unit release.
The names in these examples are made up. In real posts, people usually add photos of the front and back of the card, and say whether it has any marks.
Words that matter when you trade
A few terms carry practical weight in a trade:
- Sleeve and toploader tell you how the card will travel. A card should go into a soft sleeve first and then into a toploader; never put a bare card into a rigid toploader, because friction marks the surface. Our post on protecting photocards covers packing in detail.
- Album version and POB help both sides confirm they are talking about the same card, since one comeback can have many.
- WTS / WTB / WTT at the start of a post saves everyone time: you know right away whether money or a swap is on the table.
Words you’ll meet when you make your own cards
If you start making freebies or custom photocards, printing words join the list. Bleed is the extra artwork beyond the cut line, and crop marks show where to cut; together they stop white slivers from showing at the edges. mallow adds 2 mm of bleed and crop marks automatically when it lays out 9 photocards on an A4 sheet or 8 on US Letter. The guide to printing photocards at home explains each printer.
Die-cut and holo come up when you decorate. Every sticker in mallow is a die-cut with a white border, and the stickers page shows the four finishes, including holo and glitter.
Missing a word?
Fandom language changes with every comeback, and every fandom has its own nicknames. If a term you see often isn’t here yet, write to us at contact@mallow.pics and we’ll consider it for the next update of this glossary.
Glossary
- Album version
- One of several editions of the same album, each with its own cover, photobook and set of photocards. Collectors often name the version when trading.
- Bias
- Your favorite member of a group. Most collectors focus on their bias’s photocards first.
- Bias wrecker
- The member who keeps tempting you away from your bias, and whose cards start sneaking into your binder.
- Binder
- A ring binder or album with clear pockets sized for photocards, usually A5, A5 wide or A4. The most common way to store and show a collection.
- Birthday cafe
- A fan-organized event at a cafe to celebrate a member’s birthday, often with themed cups, decorations and free fan-made goods.
- Bleed
- Extra artwork printed beyond the cutting line so no white edge shows if the cut is slightly off. mallow adds 2 mm of bleed.
- Crop marks
- Thin lines printed outside a card that show exactly where to cut.
- Cupsleeve event
- A fan event, usually at a cafe, where drinks come with a cup sleeve printed for an artist and fans hand out freebies.
- Deco
- Decorating a toploader (not the card itself) with stickers, lace, pearls and ribbon. Also called toploader deco.
- Die-cut sticker
- A sticker cut to the exact shape of its design, usually with a thin white border around it.
- Freebies
- Small fan-made goods given away for free at events: photocards, stickers, bookmarks and similar items.
- Holo
- Short for holographic: a rainbow, mirror-like finish that changes color as the card or sticker moves.
- Lucky draw
- A special event or store promotion where buying an album gives you a chance at an extra, rarer photocard.
- Photocard (PC, poca)
- A small printed card with a photo of an artist, about 55 × 85 mm, randomly inserted in K-pop albums.
- POB (pre-order benefit)
- An exclusive extra, often a photocard, given by a specific store to people who pre-order an album there.
- Pull
- The photocard you get when you open an album. “I pulled my bias” means you got their card.
- Sleeve (penny sleeve)
- A thin, soft plastic pocket that is the first layer of protection for a card. Prefer PVC-free sleeves.
- Toploader
- A rigid plastic holder, usually 35pt and 3 × 4 in, for a card that is already in a soft sleeve.
- Unit
- A smaller group formed by some members of a larger group, often with its own albums and photocards.
- WTS / WTB / WTT
- Want to sell, want to buy and want to trade. Used at the start of posts to say what you are offering or looking for.
Quick questions
What does “poca” mean?
Poca is a short form of photocard that comes from the Korean pronunciation. It means the same as PC.
What is the difference between WTS and WTT?
WTS means “want to sell”: the card is for sale. WTT means “want to trade”: the owner wants another card in exchange instead of money.
Is a bias wrecker a bad thing?
No, it’s a playful term. A bias wrecker is the member who keeps tempting you away from your bias, and many collectors happily collect both.
More from the blog
- Collecting
How to protect photocards: sleeves, toploaders, binders
How to protect photocards: penny sleeve first, then a 35pt toploader or a photocard binder. Options compared, storage tips and safe shipping for trades. - Collecting
What is a photocard? A beginner’s guide to K-pop PCs
What is a photocard? A small 55 × 85 mm photo card of an artist, randomly inserted in K-pop albums. Size, where they come from and how to start collecting. - Ideas
12 custom photocard ideas for pets, friends and more
Custom photocard ideas beyond idols: 12 ways to turn your own photos of pets, friends, couples, trips, graduations and weddings into photocards you’ll keep.
