SEOUL (ANN/THE KOREA HERALD) – Gift bags distributed to fans attending BTS’ Busan concerts have surfaced on secondhand trading platforms shortly after the shows, triggering anger among supporters, particularly those who were unable to receive the items.

Listings for the bags appeared on platforms such as Karrot and Bungaejangter, as well as social media, following BTS’ “World Tour Arirang” concerts held at Busan Asiad Main Stadium on Friday and Saturday.

The bags were handed out as welcome gifts to concertgoers and contained a range of items, including shower towels, an umbrella, Laneige sheet masks, BTS-designed perfumes labelled “7” and “613”, photo cards and handwritten notes from the members. A cushion foundation from cosmetics brand TirTir was also included in some of the packages distributed on Saturday.

In a message shared ahead of Friday’s concert, member Jungkook said the group had personally prepared the gifts.

“Every member opened their wallet to choose the presents one by one. We hope everyone gets the gifts,” he wrote on the group’s live-viewing platform.

However, within hours of the concerts, some gift bags were listed for resale, with prices ranging from around KRW140,000 to as high as KRW500,000 (SGD92 to SGD330), although most listings were between KRW200,000 and KRW250,000.

The situation was further complicated by distribution issues at Friday’s concert, where some attendees reportedly did not receive the bags due to shortages, contributing to delayed entry and a start delay of more than an hour.

Hybe officials later said that fans who missed out would still receive the gifts.

The resale sparked strong reactions online, with many fans condemning the practice and arguing that the items were intended as personal tokens from the group rather than commercial merchandise.

“Not everyone got the gift bag. What are you doing?” one user wrote on X.

Another commented: “This is ridiculous. How could you sell a gift your boyfriend gave you?”

The backlash highlights the emotional value BTS fans attach to concert gifts, which many view as personal gestures from the artists rather than items for resale.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin