The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) has launched investigations into the alleged tie-in sale of idol photo cards by the BIG 3 entertainment agencies + HYBE soon

We been knew since day one. Sales are inflated as fuck.

HYBE is not included? What?

Only targeting NCT when all K-pop groups in the whole world do this???

Quote from Jasmine_Waters

I will be pissed if they're the only big label allowed to go unscathed by this. Everyone is getting lashes together. #equality

Quote from Aeicy

Only targeting NCT when all K-pop groups in the whole world do this???

SM 31. JYP 1. YG 2

Quote from killthisfenty

SM 31. JYP 1. YG 2

These are the dates when they were investigated…

SM - July 31

JYP - Aug 1

YG - Aug 2

Quote from lanarene

These are the dates when they were investigated?

No the amount of albums

Quote from killthisfenty

No the amount of albums

Just visited the website and translated (unless it’s a mistranslation), it says:

According to the entertainment industry on the 2nd, the Fair Trade Commission conducted an on-site investigation on YG (YG) Entertainment on the same day.

Starting with SM (SM) Entertainment on the 31st of last month, on the 1st of this month, we conducted an on-site investigation of JYP Entertainment.

Meh. This doesn't look like it's against any laws.

If anything they'll get a small fine and continue business as usual.

Quote from tetetete

weird how obsessed kftc is with kpop companies lately.. is the govt not happy with the industry?

I mean the Kpop labels embody some of the worst excesses of consumerism, so they wouldn't be doing their job if they weren't keeping an eye on them (or other regulatory agencies).

If y read tge article hybe it's included too

It's smth about photocards or smth smth smth

If they decide this is against the rules only one possibly two group in the industry coming out unscathed - Newjeans (since debut every album contains every PC) and potentially BTS (I know they did the every album contains every PC for at least 1 album but I don't keep up with them enough).

Also no-ones gonna talk about the FTC looking into unfair contract terms between artists and management companies? or am I the only one in the front seat with popcorn to finally work out how the NCT contracts work?

Quote from onwards

oming out unscathed - Newjeans

Is there a way to buy their albums individually? The member versions?

Quick looksee tells me that you can only buy random or set from most major retailers. Including Weverse.

If their going after randomness or bulk buying you can bet they'll close that loophole too.

Quote

Is there a way to buy their albums individually? The member versions?

yes, they have different member versions, but the photocard is not random, you get what you buy.

Quote from onwards

If they decide this is against the rules only one possibly two group in the industry coming out unscathed - Newjeans (since debut every album contains every PC) and potentially BTS (I know they did the every album contains every PC for at least 1 album but I don't keep up with them enough).

Yes BTS do at least one version like this for the sake of being counted as an album in UK and several EU countries. UK do not count purchase of a physical album for chart if there’s randomized merch inside (photocard is already categorized as merch)

Edit: wait i forgot this didn’t happened for any BTS solos (jitb, indigo, face, d-day) because while they have one permanent set, they also get one randomized photo

Quote from Disevidence

Is there a way to buy their albums individually? The member versions?

Quick looksee tells me that you can only buy random or set from most major retailers. Including Weverse.

If their going after randomness or bulk buying you can bet they'll close that loophole too.

Thats a very good point, but I think thats going to end up as its own investigation considering how wide spread random PC's are vs versions you can't choose, but change is afoot for sure.

If the gov decide to go hard enough with this rule they may even force a change to inclusions to give them more variety and what is even considered as a different version, as in, if your getting the same exact same inclusions (e.g. stickers, photobooks) in different versions and the only change is to the covers and named version then its anti competitive because its forcing you to buy stuff you don't want/doubling up what you get, to get what you do want.

For some groups I doubt its going to impact their sales much, but for those who cut alot of corners and double up content alot they are going to nosedive.

Quote from lanarene

These are the dates when they were investigated…

SM - July 31

JYP - Aug 1

YG - Aug 2

I’m screaaaaaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmiiiiiiinnnnngggggggg

I'm confused as to why the FTC is investigating this because it kind of is a legitimate way of selling multiple albums. Like if somebody has the money to buy $300 worth of albums then so be it.

I’m not saying that this is correct, but if we’re talking about stopping album inflation then we can just only count one album per household, similar to ULs on Melon vs overall streams

Moral of the story. Korea has much MUCH bigger problems than Kpop albums.

Focused on the wrong things which once again makes them look stupid.

Quote from bartkun

Kpop fans next year:

A: remember album sales records?

B: bitch please I only care about photocard box sales!

kpopfans gonna run to shops buying collections cards in random 10er packs like the kids did 20 years ago for pokemon and panini cards. than they have to change with fans from other fandoms to get all cards from their faves. and yg will be this asshole company who make a few cards of their most popular idols super rare.

Yall are celebrating until all of your fave's sales tank hard. If they take actions, sales will go down back to 300k-400k period.

But I don't believe they will, Korea takes too much pride in Kpop and its success.

So the investigation is probably going to see if Cards or Tie Ins are intentionally being with held in order to generate more sales rather than the random nature of getting cards because that's very common for all Kpop Companies.

Quote from bartkun

People still are buying those Panini cards and stickers. If I remember well they even make them for UFC fighters now.

That's actually a good idea tho.

For example tripleS Objekts (photocards) were available to buy in GS25 convenience shops in Korea

companies should not only make photocards but also give them stats. vocal, rap, dance, visual, etc. so the fans can play with them.

Quote from neigl

companies should not only make photocards but also give them stats. vocal, rap, dance, visual, etc. so the fans can play with them.

oh, I like that, kpop card game when ?

imagine if I can use my favs card to beat others

I do think random photocards should stop tbh

Quote from hieuken

oh, I like that, kpop card game when ?

imagine if I can use my favs card to beat others

it should include stats like strength, stamina, age, height, weight or other non idol related stats. there can be stronger and weaker cards. but even the weakest card needs to be able to beat the strongest card if hitting the right weakspot. and of coures the stronger the idol the rarer the card.^^

we should make it ourself and become milionars. than hiding from the lawyers of the entertainment companies cuz we ignored the copyrights.

fandoms would more interact with each other with trade and playing. and even more shittalking after wining...

Quote from onwards

If they decide this is against the rules only one possibly two group in the industry coming out unscathed - Newjeans (since debut every album contains every PC) and potentially BTS (I know they did the every album contains every PC for at least 1 album but I don't keep up with them enough).

Also no-ones gonna talk about the FTC looking into unfair contract terms between artists and management companies? or am I the only one in the front seat with popcorn to finally work out how the NCT contracts work?

Nah BP and these big groups will still have high album sales tbh.

Quote from Dreamer95

Yall are celebrating until all of your fave's sales tank hard. If they take actions, sales will go down back to 300k-400k period.

But I don't believe they will, Korea takes too much pride in Kpop and its success.

I think people overhype how many people really care about photocards.

Digital versions/Member versions are what boost sales a lot.