{"id":100535,"date":"2025-10-29T05:06:10","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T05:06:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/seasons-greetings-became-k-pops-winter-goldmine\/"},"modified":"2025-10-29T05:06:10","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T05:06:10","slug":"seasons-greetings-became-k-pops-winter-goldmine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/seasons-greetings-became-k-pops-winter-goldmine\/","title":{"rendered":"Season\u2019s greetings became K-Pop\u2019s winter goldmine"},"content":{"rendered":"
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SEOUL:<\/strong> The K-pop calendar may be packed with excitement every winter, but the tradition of \u201cSeason\u2019s Greetings\u201d<\/strong> merchandise has rapidly escalated from a simple fan gift into a battleground pitting fan emotion against corporate commerce.<\/p>\n

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What began as a charming collection of diaries, calendars, and exclusive photo cards an annual \u201critual\u201d for fans to feel connected to their idols as they step into the New Year is now a massive revenue pillar for entertainment labels.<\/p>\n

The intentional use of scarcity, limited pre-orders, and unique themes creates instant FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)<\/strong>, driving massive sales and inflating the emotional value of the products.<\/p>\n

The formula came crashing down recently when K-pop titan SM Entertainment<\/strong> unveiled its 2026 Season\u2019s Greetings lineup. While most artists\u2019 bundles stuck to the standard price point of around 49,000 won ($34), the sets for their top-performing groups, aespa\u2019s<\/strong> and RIIZE<\/strong>, were listed at a staggering 129,000 won.<\/p>\n

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Though these were labeled \u201cspecial editions\u201d and packed with extra items (like aespa\u2019s necklace and denim bag or RIIZE\u2019s paper dolls), the near three-fold jump in price immediately triggered severe backlash.<\/p>\n

\"K-pop<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Fans flooded social media, accusing SM of undermining the inclusive spirit of the tradition and essentially \u201ctesting the limits\u201d of fan loyalty.<\/p>\n

The notable price surge stands in direct opposition to standard industry norms, considering major groups like TWICE, Seventeen, and Stray Kids<\/strong> priced their comparable sets within a narrow 45,000 to 55,000 won range last year.<\/p>\n

\"Twice<\/p>\n

\"SEVENTEEN<\/p>\n

\"250921<\/p>\n

Weighing in on the issue, cultural critic Ha Jae-geun asserted that this financial pressure exposes the fragile nature of emotional value<\/strong> in K-pop. He strongly cautioned agencies against leveraging fan loyalty solely for profit.<\/p>\n

Fundamentally, even as the cost debate rages, the merchandise\u2019s enduring function remains personal: it provides fans with an essential sense of belonging that far outweigh<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n