K-pop group BTS is teaming up with Oreo to launch a limited-edition cookie inspired by hotteok, a popular South Korean brown-sugar-filled pancake.

The collaboration comes after BTS returned to the stage this year following a lengthy hiatus during which the seven members completed mandatory military service in South Korea. The partnership gives Oreo an opportunity to connect with the growing global popularity of Korean pop culture while giving BTS another major international brand collaboration as the group resumes activities.

The limited-edition cookies are scheduled to go on sale June 1. According to Oreo, the creme filling was developed to capture the flavor of hotteok, which the BTS members grew up eating.

The cookie wafers will be purple, reflecting the color closely associated with BTS and its global fan base, known as ARMY.

The cookies will also feature 13 different designs engraved on the wafers. Some designs can be combined to create a message for fans, while others feature the names of the seven BTS members — RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook. Additional designs include a BTS light stick and other imagery connected to the group.

Oreo said the collaboration will be available in more than 80 countries, making it one of the brand’s largest international celebrity collaborations.

Matt Foley, Oreo’s vice president of marketing, described the partnership as much larger than a campaign focused solely on the United States.

The limited-edition packaging draws inspiration from Korean culture and street markets in Seoul, further emphasizing the connection between the cookie and BTS’ South Korean roots.

BTS debuted in 2013 and entered a hiatus in 2022 while its members completed mandatory military service. The group returned to the stage this year with a major concert in Seoul as part of promotional activities surrounding its fifth studio album.

The group’s return comes as the global K-pop industry has become increasingly competitive, with artists including BLACKPINK, Stray Kids, ATEEZ and TWICE building large international fan bases.

For Oreo, the BTS collaboration comes as the brand seeks to maintain its relevance amid changing consumer spending habits and economic pressures.

Oreo remains one of Mondelēz International’s largest brands, generating more than $4 billion in sales in 2023. The company has positioned the cookie as an affordable indulgence while continuing to introduce limited-edition flavors and partnerships.

Mondelēz reported a 3.5% decline in North American sales in July 2025. The company subsequently announced a limited-time Oreo collaboration with Reese’s, which was later made permanent as the company sought to respond to weakening consumer confidence.

The BTS collaboration represents another effort to keep the century-old Oreo brand connected to changing consumer interests while tapping into the worldwide popularity of K-pop.

SOURCE: CNN, Auzinea Bacon, updated May 27, 2026.