Fans were outraged after two Chinese resellers were caught clearing out a vending machine at NCT WISH’s pop-up store, reigniting debates about scalpers damaging K-pop’s fan culture.
A video uploaded on September 2 quickly went viral across social media and online communities. Titled “Two Chinese Tourists Cleaned Out the NCT WISH Pop-Up Store”, the clip showed a man and woman aggressively buying plush dolls from a self-service vending machine and stuffing them into large bags.
The incident took place during a promotional pop-up store event ahead of NCT WISH’s comeback. Hundreds of fans had lined up from early morning to purchase exclusive goods. While staff had maintained order during the day, they left at 8 PM, leaving the vending machines unattended. That was when the two individuals allegedly took advantage of the situation.
Witnesses in line protested loudly, shouting, “So shameless!” and “Can’t you see people waiting behind you?” but the pair reportedly argued back in Chinese, further fueling anger.
Following backlash, NCT WISH’s label belatedly announced purchase limits on merchandise. However, fans criticized the move as too late, pointing out that the damage had already been done.
Netizens speculated that the two were scalpers intending to resell the limited-edition goods online at inflated prices. The incident has drawn comparisons to past controversies, such as Chinese buyers crowding a Pokémon event in Seoul earlier this year, and reports from Japan where bulk purchases of McDonald’s Happy Meals were made solely for collectible toys.
For many K-pop fans, this incident highlights growing concerns over how resellers exploit events meant to connect artists with their supporters, turning fandom culture into a marketplace.
Sources: allkpop
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