The K-POP Empire — Local services in Everett

Went there this weekend for the first time, went Friday and Saturday despite it being almost an hour light rail ride for me to visit lol, but I will absolutely be going back, and 100% prefer this store as the place to go for kpop goods!

The staff there is all super super nice and helpful. Everyone I spoke to was excited to see the albums I was choosing, wanted to know about the pulls I got, and were all just really kind and caring even though I’m sure the huge event they were putting on was a lot for them, they all were working hard but still so great to talk to!

I’m new to kpop so lucky for them I need to buy a lot of albums haha, but I had one worker, blonde I think? Who had just gotten a couple new Ateez tattoos from the event, who really took the time to show me where things were around the store! Helped me know which types of albums would be the best to buy and why, or which pcs I could hope to find in an album. Super nice and I really appreciated the help! And I bought all the recommended albums haha

They also had a lot of variations of albums which I didn’t expect! Special editions that I would have had a hard time getting anywhere, and very reasonably priced too. Their prices are at least a few dollars better per album compared to other stores I’ve been to in the area. I even got a signed Ateez album! Which I appreciate the team gave me great info on when it would be available and there was someone who I think is a manager there who I spoke to about it who I could tell knew how much it meant to me and was determined to make sure I got one when they became available Saturday so I will always appreciate that! I also LOVE that they limited how many of those albums they would sell to each customer. To me that alone shows that they care about kpop, they care about their customers all getting a good experience, and they care about making the most people happy that they can!

The event they held for Ateez was also amazing, so glad I stopped in, I think I bought something from every vendor they had in the store lol, but I LOVE a local store that encourages people to buy from other locals!!

10/10 place, I will absolutely be back...

08/29/2025

Oh my goodness, my childhood dreams have come true. Being a K-Pop fan in the 2000s meant that there were no music stores that sold physical copies of albums or merchandise here in the States and ordering them online internationally meant that you had very limited options (most companies didn't even give you the option to have items shipped outside of Korea).

Today, my friend bought me a Girls' Generation light stick as an early birthday gift. I feel on the verge of tears as I remember how closeted my love and appreciation for Korean music was back then when I first found them. We might not get a U.S. tour of all the girls together, but maybe I can use this stick if one of them rolls through. Regardless, my heart is full and it is thanks to K-Pop Empire for providing such meaningful merch like this for fans like myself.

They have albums from all the most popular groups in the spotlight right now and some longtime favorites, like Red Velvet, SHINee, and BIGBANG. I was blown away by their shelf of Dreamcatcher albums and photocards as well — they're my current favorite group right now (after GG, of course). I also love how they have space for events like the one for G-Dragon coming up. Giving local fans an opportunity to come together and share in our love for Korean music and pop-culture is such a gift, both for longtime fans and for new fans on the scene.

The staff are incredibly friendly and are fans themselves, so they know exactly what kind of merch to keep stocked on their shelves and to keep fans coming back. Special shout out to Taylor for making it such an amazing first time experience, even asking me which member of Girls' Generation was my bias in case she had a photocard of them behind the counter. Finding out she is a major Shawol too made for such a cool bonding moment. I cannot recommend K-Pop Empire enough. They have created a much needed space here in Seattle and I am so personally grateful to have stopped by today. I'm going to remember this for quite...

09/05/25 UPDATE ONE YEAR LATER…

I’m no longer a newbie, and The Kpop Empire is still my favorite store! I’m so thankful they moved to Lynnwood—it’s so much closer to my work now, and I find myself stopping by often. Every visit feels welcoming, not just because of the wonderful staff but also the amazing community of fellow fans who gather here.

The events they put together are always so fun, and you can tell how much care goes into creating a space where people feel included and connected. I truly can’t recommend them enough, and I often find myself sharing about this store with others at my own workplace.

— The first time I came here, I didn't know much about K-pop so it wasn't as exciting. Once I started getting more into it, I decided to check it out again and saw they had moved closer to the food court and they had way more selection. I'm still new to this genre so it's kind of overwhelming to a newbie.

The customer service has always been amazing every time I've stopped in -- including online interactions. The store itself is very vibrant and cute. My first purchase, I bought merchandise for my cousin because she loves Kun from WayV and I was able to find a couple versions with him! They specifically offered one of the albums to me for the price they were going to sell during their Anniversary event which was so generous because I was unable to attend.

They even let you choose 1 freebie per purchase which is really nice. I do feel the prices here can be steep but the WayV items I bought were a really decent price.

After checking out both Kpop Station locations and Pop pop gifts, the customer service alone at The Kpop Empire makes me want to support this business instead. They are definitely more personable and accommodating. Bonus: They also informed me of the events they host for the community and...