Mystery Boxes Left Free in Front of Ewha Womans University Station Worth 20,000 Won Each: What Happened?

Each worth 20,000 won, yet left for anyone to take?

Hearing those keywords, you might think it is a heartwarming scene of sharing.

However, this is a story about the dark side of the K-pop industry. Let us look at the article together.

This was the scene in front of Ewha Womans University Station on August 31.

A cardboard box was placed there.

It was marked "FREE," and when people see "FREE," they usually think of a free giveaway.

Inside this box were dozens of idol group albums, each valued at around 20,000 won, still sealed in their plastic wrap.

Why?

Experts analyze that fans likely bought dozens of albums to win entry into events like fan sign gatherings and then discarded them as they were.

This happens because the more albums you buy, the more chances you get to enter, according to the analysis.

Scenes of illegal dumping disguised as sharing are frequently witnessed.

The singers and agencies of the discarded albums are not limited to just one.

Currently, about 100 million K-pop albums are sold every year.

Considering that such physical album systems are established across the entire K-pop market, analysis suggests that the volume of albums discarded without ever being used or listened to is likely substantial.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.