Korean entertainment companies can get creative when it comes to official K-Pop merchandise, and sometimes they’re more positively received than others. For example, aespa recently got a lot of praise for the unique inclusion of a CD player in their album, something that hadn’t been done before.
But not every unique good included in a K-Pop album is so enthusiastically commended, and that’s the case for ENHYPEN‘s newly-announced upcoming album, ROMANCE : UNTOLD.
The album, which is to be the group’s second full-length studio album, was announced earlier today, and is set to come out on July 12.
Details of the goods included in the album were also revealed, and it’s one in particular that has caught the attention of K-Pop fans, and not in the best way.
According to BELIFT LAB, outfits worn by the ENHYPEN members will be split into 150,000 pieces and included in the albums.
It’s unclear at this point exactly which outfits the pieces of fabric will be coming from, though it seems likely it could be from the music video for the title track of the upcoming album or other performance outfits worn by the members. Whatever the case, reactions to the fabric piece weren’t exactly what the label likely hoped it would be, at least by some people.
Some feel like this is taking things too far in terms of parasocial relationships between idols and fans, and that it only worsens the sasaeng problem that many K-Pop idols face. Others just find it a bizarre choice in general.
However, this isn’t the first time this has been done. In fact, earlier this year, it was revealed that pieces of EXO Kai‘s jeans were given out as gifts to fans in a special gift bundle from his solo concert LYNK-POP: THE VR CONCERT KAI.
Some fans also pointed out that this has been done many times by celebrities such as athletes, with pieces taken from their jerseys and other uniforms.
Do you think this is a weird good to include in ENHYPEN’s album, or an interesting and unique one?
Source: The Qoo and Pann Choa
