K-Pop Girl Group New Jeans Spices It Up With McDonald’s Collab  

The much anticipated collaboration between fast rising K-pop girl group New Jeans and McDonald’s has finally arrived in Singapore. 

This is not first time the Golden Arches has dived into the K-pop scene, having had much global success with a BTS partnership in 2021. While BTS was far more established on the global scale before their collaboration, New Jeans has been on the rise this year, particularly in Asia, with a spate of infectious viral hits including “Super Shy” and “Ditto”   

Obviously, the McDonald’s and New Jeans special is exclusive to Asia, and has been planned for ten different countries across continent, each with their own specials. The Singapore special starring K-Sweet and Spicy Mc Crispy, an iteration of saucy Korean fried chicken, is available from November 2 and will be packaged in cute New Jeans inspired pixel art packaging. There will also be exclusive McDonald’s and New Jeans inspired merchandise for fans.      

According to ASN data, McDonald’s is the third largest spender (8.9%, slightly over US$3.2m) since Q121, however, the fast food giant’s spends have had a tepid first three quarters of 2023 seeing a total of US$363k, way below the average of about US$911k, and this has been attributed to a spate of withdrawals, including an endorsement deal with Chinese sprinting sensation Su Bingtian, the Philippines’ UAAP Basketball League and Tokyo Marathon. However, things are meant to pick up in Q423 with our forecast tipping investment of US$396k. 

Obviously, Yum! Brands owned KFC—the biggest player in China’s burgeoning fast food scene—is the biggest spender (43.1%, slightly over US$15.6m) for this category since Q121, largely buoyed by its almost US$10.7m in Q422. Pizza Hut, also under the Yum! Brands portfolio, is second (36.4%, almost US$13.3m) with a lively Q322 witnessing a whopping investment of almost US$7m.  

* Please note: Yum China has been running as an independent entity from Yum! Brands since November 2016.