"Why do we have to cover the concert invitations ourselves?". Minnie and Wookie of the girl group iKON raised this complaint, sparking a controversy among K-pop fandoms.

On the 13th, the web entertainment show 'Salon Drip 2' was released on the YouTube channel 'Theo,' featuring a guest appearance by iKON's Minnie and Wookie. They met comedian Jang Doyoun to chat about their current status as they prepare for a comeback following the full group's re-contracting.

On this day, MC Jang Doyoun expressed curiosity, saying, "Is it true that Ms. Minnie invited 100 acquaintances to the concert, spending 10 million won out of her own pocket?" Wookie then added, "There is a Minnie zone. There are senior schoolmates, family, and friends all there."

Thai-born Minnie was inviting acquaintances, including friends and family from her hometown, to the concert at her own expense due to the rare tour opportunity. She laughed and awkwardly said, "It's only once a year."

In the midst of this, Wookie expressed confusion, saying, "There is something I don't understand. It's not like (Minnie) is the older sister. It's a good thing to invite to the concert, but why do we have to spend our own money?" To which Minnie explained, "Only the first 4 invitations per member are free. We have to invite the rest out of our own pockets."

Jang Doyoun empathized, saying sympathetically, "Why didn't you include it in the contract?" Minnie and Wookie sighed and said, "We forgot." Furthermore, they quipped, "There are still 3 years left in the contract," humorously suggesting that they might add it to the actual re-contracting terms.

The remarks about the 'concert invitation seats' by Wookie and Minnie were seen as a cute episode from overseas members on 'Salon Drip 2.' This is because Minnie is from Thailand and Wookie is from China, making opportunities to meet their hometown family and friends through the stage rare.

However, at the same time, this sparked outrage in some corners of the K-pop fandom. For most idol fans, merely attending a concert is akin to picking stars from the sky. The high ticket prices and the fiercely competitive process of acquiring tickets, termed 'picketing,' contribute to this sentiment. Recently, idols who engage in the ticketing process to empathize with fans have received praise. Nevertheless, Minnie and Wookie's comments suggesting priority on invites, even if it is at their own expense, disappointed K-pop fans.

Moreover, a concert is not just a space for the iKON members alone, but also a stage created by the efforts of numerous staff and agencies. It represents a significant opportunity for fans to meet the stars and a crucial revenue-generating opportunity for the musicians through the stage. Comments that seem to overlook this aspect left a sense of regret.

iKON announced the news of their re-contracting as a full group at last year's end-of-year awards ceremony. They are set to make a full group comeback on the 19th.

[Photo] OSEN DB, YouTube source.

[OSEN]