HYBE boy group ENHYPEN’s latest album, Romance: Untold, comes with unique goods included with every purchase. In addition to the usual photo cards, photo books, and CDs, fabric pieces from costumes worn by the ENHYPEN members are also a part of the album inclusions this time.
Recently, real-life pictures of this recycled fabric inclusion went viral on X (former Twitter). The piece of cloth came sealed in a plastic packet, and on the back, a warning label read, “Do not open and touch.”
boy what the hell.. pic.twitter.com/IeVW1OIsYh
— myaa ?? (@myadrowning) July 12, 2024
The post garnered divided reactions from K-Pop fans and netizens in general. Many were baffled by the warning and wondered why the fabric pieces were not safe to touch.
RIGHT?!? LIKE OH MY GOD.
— myaa ?? (@myadrowning) July 12, 2024
“do not open and touch” ?!? is it radioactive
— Stellaluna (@4ng3lluv) July 12, 2024
what they doing if I open……..
— hwaa (@aepplekz) July 12, 2024
Bffr.. did they infuse it with sweat and seal it pic.twitter.com/PLDu2R1yUm
— ·:*¨༺ ♱?♱ ༻¨*:· (@amorqbe) July 12, 2024
Many were also repulsed by the idea in general and felt like it was a subtle encouragement of sasaeng fan-like behavior. Some also criticized it as a cheap cash-grab on HYBE’s part.
this is borderline psychotic coming from their team like this is why sasaengs exist because companies feed into their shit https://t.co/YWe4OXvlLk
— shameen ❀ is seeing ateez ! (@illicitseoks) July 12, 2024
tbh kpop companies are kinda smart like they know they can sell even a little piece of fabric that they claim an idol has touched because kpop stans are so f’ing stupid and will buy anything https://t.co/E2q8ff5hpy
— hhh ? (@fallingfl0wers) July 12, 2024
why is belift so desperate they’re basically exploiting their artists and encouraging obsessive behaviour from their fans… weird as hell https://t.co/r9meySxwLH
— (˵ •̀ ᴗ – ˵ ) ✧ ﾟ (@adriftzoey) July 12, 2024
hybe is normalising the creepy sasaeng things and no wonder blacklisted fansites are still welcomed at concerts and events… https://t.co/FSyUDqRdBW
— na ?? check pinned ? IA ? (@najungie) July 13, 2024
However, some netizens chipped in with a different perspective. They pointed out that it is a normal concept in the sports fandom, the only difference being fans receive pieces of an athlete’s jersey instead of costumes.
“it’s weird” what weird thing you’re gonna do with these confetti sized pieces of cloth? They didn’t even charge an extra penny for this. Stop acting like y’all ever cared about Enha. This is why y’all should go outside and touch some grass cus this has been existing for years. https://t.co/nOl0qQgHEh pic.twitter.com/nqJatSB6PI
— Sam (fan)?️ (@that_f_w) July 13, 2024
kpop fans would have a full blown panic attack https://t.co/psophtn9dD pic.twitter.com/ZGoTzeS1Wh
— thais (@thaisbmartini) July 12, 2024
ppl when they discover “upcycling” concept has been around for years in kpop and mind you, this is normal in sports ent..???? https://t.co/pEzvIzCgvw pic.twitter.com/5btv409Q9f
— xo, lei ?️ (fan) (@ikeuyun) July 12, 2024
Despite the clarification, however, more and more netizens continued to express their discomfort with this album inclusion, given the unique problem of sasaeng culture in K-Pop fanbases.
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