Local fans asked to pay for Kpop stars' meals and transport for
Korean Music Wave
A local organising company for the Korean Music Wave
event on Nov 16 has requested for fans to pay for their idols'
meals and transport as a form of support, sparking outrage among
locals such as STOMPer Ric.
According to a report on Shin Min Daily News, Fatfish Entertainment
posted on their facebook page that they had received many queries
from fan clubs about sending their idols 'fan support'.
The company thus requested for fans to show their support in two
ways -- food and transport.
'Food support' is supposedly a special culture in Korea and nothing
new, whereby fans would request to fund their idols' meals and send
them food willingly. However, this is the first time an organiser
has requested for 'transport support'.
Although the organisers said that this was all supposed to be
voluntary, an email they sent out to fan clubs apparently
listed all the food items that would be needed in detail. This
included sports drinks, mineral water, coffee and tidbits.
Fans were also asked to donate money so as to subsidise rental
costs for transportation, which amounted to at least $500.
In return, fans would get to design their own 'welcome cards',
which the organisers would give to the artistes upon their
arrival.
As this is the first time such a request has been made, skeptical
fans have questioned the real intention of the organisers. They
also felt that 'fan support' has become commercialised, as well as
a means to put the costs incurred during the event on fans.
The CEO of Fatfish Entertainment explained in an interview that
'transport support' is another way for fans to support their idols,
as the Korean artistes are unable to accept all kinds of food
people would like to send.
STOMPer Ric, who came across the news article, felt that organisers
were exploiting fans whose only intentions were to show additional
support for their idols. He wrote:
"Here in Singapore, 'food support' has become 'tidbit
support'. The items given to the artistes are all what we grow up
to know as junk food and rubbish. But now organisers are telling
fans that these are the only items you can give your idols."
He also feels that transport costs are supposed to be covered for
by the organisers, and that the goodwill of fans should not be made
use of, especially since many of them are only teenagers.
"It is understandable for the organisers to want to earn more
money but to this extent? Is this what we call proper business
ethics?" added Ric.
Hosted by Korea's MBC Broadcasting Station, the event will
feature a wide array of celebrities such as SHINee, F.T. Island,
2PM, 2AM, IU and more.
