1. What does it mean?
응원봉 literally means cheering stick. In K-pop fandom it usually refers to a light-up concert accessory, often with an artist-specific design. Fans use it to show support and contribute to the audience's visual atmosphere.
Also written or said as eungwonbong
2. The nuance
Some models support coordinated lighting, but capabilities and event compatibility vary. The word is not a guarantee of official licensing or a requirement that every fan own one.
3. Examples
“공연 전에 응원봉 배터리를 갈았어.”
I replaced the lightstick batteries before the show.
“응원봉 불빛이 모이니 객석이 정말 예뻤어.”
The audience looked beautiful with all the lightsticks glowing together.
Sources
References support the meaning and usage. Example sentences are written for NoCapWiki.