L-Holder Meaning in K-Pop: A Collector’s Essential Guide

Your favorite K-Pop group has released a new merch line — awesome! But as you scroll through everything on offer, you may come across a term you’ve never heard before: “L-holder”.

If you have no idea what it is or whether it’s worth buying, you’ve come to the right place: here’s everything you need to know about L-holder’s meaning in the K-Pop collecting community.

Table Of Contents
  1. L-Holder Meaning in K-Pop
  2. Are L-Holders Worth It?
  3. Which Groups Have L-Holders?
  4. Where Can You Buy an L-Holder?
  5. Where Can You Buy L-Holders Cheaply?
  6. Conclusion

L-Holder Meaning in K-Pop

In a nutshell: An L-holder is a filing product used for storing stationery. Keep reading to learn more about K-Pop L-holder designs, what you can do with them, and whether they’re worth it.

What Are L-Holders Called in English?

If this product looks familiar to you but you’ve never heard the name, you may know it by a different term in English. L-holders may also be referred to as:

  • L folders
  • L-type or L-shape folders
  • Clear files
  • A4 or US letter pockets
  • Document folders
  • Plastic sleeves

What Does the L Stand For?

The “L” in L-holder refers to the way the folder is structured. These sleeves are sealed along the left vertical edge (|) and the bottom horizontal edge (_).

Put those shapes together (|_), and you get the letter L!

Are L-Holders Worth It?

Whether an L-holder is worth it to you depends on two factors:

  • Are you a serious collector who needs to have everything your bias group releases?
  • Can you find a use for the folder in your everyday life?

What Can You Put in an L-Holder?

Not sure whether you’ll be able to get any use out of a plastic sleeve? Here are a few ideas for what to keep inside:

  • Important documents and certificates
  • Homework and assignments
  • Loose papers you don’t want to lose
  • Travel documents when going on vacation
  • Sheet music
  • Old, meaningful greeting cards
  • Coupons when shopping
  • Small K-Pop posters (A4 or US letter size)
  • Miscellaneous K-Pop album inclusions you have to place for, such as POBs

Collecting L-Holders

If you’re an avid collector and you’re aiming to own all the merchandise your favorite group releases, it’s a good idea to purchase L-holders when they’re released. Since L holders don’t sell as highly as albums, you may have a hard time finding fans selling their pre-owned folders in the future.

Even if you do find an L-holder on the aftermarket, it’s likely to cost a lot more than you would’ve spent when it was released. 

Which Groups Have L-Holders?

L-holders are a common type of merchandise, so most groups who sell stationery as part of their merch drops are bound to offer L-holders at some point. Some of the K-Pop groups who’ve released these folders in the past include:

BTS

TWICE

SEVENTEEN

Red Velvet

Where Can You Buy an L-Holder?

L-holders are typically released as part of an official merchandise set, so keep an eye on your bias group’s social media accounts or website. When an L-holder is released, the group’s agency will usually share a link to a reputable purchasing site.

Where Can You Buy L-Holders Cheaply?

Shipping prices looking a little too expensive for one simple plastic sleeve? Try a group order, also known as a “GO”. 

Delivering dozens of L-holders (or albums, or any other merchandise) is usually a lot cheaper per-product than delivering just one. To take advantage of this, local K-Pop fans all around the world run group orders: individual fans order the merchandise through a group order manager, and the manager then purchases the products in bulk. Once the bulk order arrives, your GO manager will ship our your L-holder of choice using your country’s local delivery service. 

The process takes a little longer than ordering directly, and you will need to do your due diligence to find a reputable GO manager, but you’re sure to save money this way.

Conclusion

Now you know: an L-holder in K-Pop is a folder decorated with an idol’s photo, useful for storing papers and documents. Many groups release L-holders as part of their official merchandise sets, and you can always purchase through a group order to save money on shipping.

Learn more K-Pop lingo: