We’re not starting a cult but some followers on Instagram would be nice. Thank you.
NewJeans just made their debut in June 2022 but they’re already the next big thing to hit the K-pop industry.
Actually, I’ll take that back. They’re the next big thing to hit the music industry, period.
The group has hit Spotify’s Top 50 – Global charts, and their songs have been used by millions of TikTok users worldwide.
Now, they’ve also made their foray into the fast food industry… sorta.
On Mar. 2, McDonald’s Korea launched the McCrispy Creamy Onion in collaboration with the teenage girl group.
The Korean rendition is a burger with a cajun-coated crispy chicken thigh patty, topped with bacon, onions and a creamy onion sauce.

Photo from McDonald’s Korea.
Not gonna lie… Even if this burger wasn’t endorsed by NewJeans, I would have bought it anyway because it looks great.
But collaborating with the mega-popular group is still a smart move.
Selling the experience
Before the burger was even launched, one creative fan had already designed a NewJeans-themed packaging, which went viral on Twitter.
McDonalds X NEWJEANS IS COMING pic.twitter.com/iU7JCOQkhB
— nil (@newjiram) February 24, 2023
Alas, the real collaboration has no special packaging whatsoever…

Screenshot from @whatbtaleyna on TikTok.

Screenshot from @dilfhunter477 on TikTok.
… But it still has every Tokki (the name for fans of NewJeans) documenting their experience of buying the burger.
@texpatpat Nothing special but it wasnt bad #expatinkorea #newjeans #mcdonalds #newjeansmcdonalds #southkorea ♬ Hype Boy – NewJeans
@whatabtaleyna Trying the new New Jeans x McDonald’s burger 🍔 #seoul #southkorea #추천 #güneykore #kpop #livinginkorea #expatinkorea #newjeans #fyp ♬ OMG – NewJeans
@dilfhunter477 lets try it 🤔🤨 *ੈ✩‧₊˚⋆。゚☁︎。⋆。 ゚☾ ゚。⋆*ੈ✩‧₊˚ *ੈ✩‧₊˚⋆。゚☁︎。⋆。 ゚☾ ゚。⋆*ੈ✩‧₊˚ *ੈ✩‧₊˚⋆。゚☁︎。⋆。 ゚☾ ゚。⋆*ੈ✩‧₊˚ *ੈ✩‧₊˚⋆。゚☁︎。⋆。 ゚☾ ゚。⋆*ੈ✩‧₊˚ *ੈ✩‧₊˚⋆。゚☁︎。⋆。 ゚☾ ゚。⋆*ੈ✩‧₊˚ *ੈ✩‧₊˚⋆。゚☁︎。⋆。 ゚☾ ゚。⋆*ੈ✩‧₊˚ #vlog #miniv#vlogt#minivlogo#tlog #videodiary ##dailylife그#daily #브이로그v#외국인kto#traveltiktokr#travele#korea #koreanfoods#shoppingv#seouli#traveldiariest#kbeautyn#btse#koreanstyles#trending##seoultrip서#서울 #서울카페파#서울여행이#한국티#파트너크리에이터##티로거e#틱톡여행c#coquettes#coquetteaestheticr#downtowngirlm#skincarel#mybago#haull#pedropascals#madsmikkelsena#scandinaviaan #unboxing #nostalgia #seoultravel #seoulkorea #lanadelrey #newjeans #newjeansminji #newjeansmerch #newzealand #mcdonalds #mcdonaldsunboxing ♬ OMG – NewJeans
And a few things these TikTok users find cheap thrills in include seeing the NewJeans members all over the store:

Screenshot from @whatabyaleyna

Screenshot from @whatabtaleyna
And the adorable pixel-themed decor:

Screenshot from @dilfhunter477.
The exhilaration is probably similar to the experience when everybody and their mothers (me included) tried to order McDonald’s BTS Meal in 2021.
The whole process felt like I was camping to buy BTS concert tickets.

Imagine going through a virtual room just to buy a meal of nuggets. NUGGETS.
And the satisfaction upon successfully ordering the meal was like no other.
At the risk of being flamed by ARMYs, the BTS Meal was meh, and I’m being nice (the cajun sauce and sweet chilli sauce can’t compare to the OG curry sauce, pls).
But at least the packaging had BTS written all over it.

Photo by Fasiha Nazren.
Which sparked a eureka moment for budding entrepreneurs.
Can it launch internationally, please?
The BTS Meal was launched in over 50 countries.
The NewJeans collaboration, however, is only available in South Korea… for now.
Many fans are manifesting for the collaboration to launch internationally and include the addition of merchandise, just like how Blackpink’s x OREO had limited edition photo cards.

Screenshot from Reddit.
manifesting international and photocardssssss
— Jade (@k_susonj) February 24, 2023
INTERNATIONAL PLS
— sab | sobbing rn (@louise_sabb) February 24, 2023
One can hope.
Top image from @whatabtaleyna on TikTok and McDonald’s Korea.
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