fromis_9 Saerom Birthday Subway Lightbox Ads in Seoul (2023)

In January 2023, fans celebrated the birthday of Saerom (이새롬) of fromis_9 with two large lightbox ads in a Seoul subway station. One panel is green and yellow and carries "1997 0107". The other is pink and purple and carries "2023 0107". Both say "새롬이의 27번째 생일을 축하합니다" ("Congratulations on Saerom's 27th birthday"). Here is a closer look, plus how fans overseas can plan a similar ad.

Where was the ad displayed?

The two frames are set into a dark stone wall, one after the other, along a station walkway. They are tall panels that reach from knee height almost to the ceiling, so the pictures are close to life size.

No station sign is readable in our photos and we have no note of the station, so we do not name it.

What did the ad look like?

The two panels share one layout and swap the colours.

Green and yellow panel. A large photo of Saerom in a white top fills the centre, with two smaller photos in round frames on either side. "1997 0107" is printed in tall white numerals on the left. A small oval reads "HAPPY SAEROM DAY", and "Saerom of fromis_9" sits near the top. Two lines in a handwriting font cross the upper right.

Pink and purple panel. The same layout with a different set of photos, this time with dark hair, and "2023 0107" in the matching position. A small heart-shaped frame holds one more picture.

Both panels have a white band along the bottom. On one side it reads "프로미스나인의 캡틴." ("Captain of fromis_9.") and on the other "새롬이의 27번째 생일을 축하합니다". The top corner of each panel carries the name "이새롬마이너갤러리".

The handwritten-style lines are partly hidden by glare in our photos, so we are not quoting them.

When did it run?

The second panel prints "2023 0107", so the ad marked 7 January 2023. We have no record of the first and last day it was lit.

Who organized it?

Each panel is labelled "이새롬마이너갤러리" (roughly, "Lee Saerom Minor Gallery") in the top corner. We repeat the name as it is printed and add nothing beyond that.

What is a subway lightbox ad?

A lightbox is a framed, backlit panel on a station wall. These two are the large format: wide and tall enough that a walker's whole field of view is filled for a few steps.

The pairing here is worth copying. The birth date sits on the first panel and the birthday date on the second, so the two frames read in order as "then" and "now". Keeping the layout the same and changing only the colours and photos makes the pair feel like one piece, even with a pillar between them.

How can fans overseas place a similar ad in Korea?

You can set up an ad like this from outside Korea. The steps are:

1. Choose the occasion and the date.
2. Choose where you want it: a station lightbox, a bus, or another spot.
3. Prepare your message and photos, and check that you have the right to use them.
4. Send us your idea, and we will answer with the options open for your dates.

Large formats and side-by-side frames are limited, so early planning helps.

Our How It Works page covers the process. To begin, request a quote. Costs depend on the ad type and dates, so please contact us for a quote.

We share past fan ads as examples of what fans have done. If you would like this page changed or removed, please use our removal request form.