Would you pay that much for an album?
aespa is gearing up for their comeback, but their album has already sparked some criticism.
aespa will be releasing their single album, Dirty Work, on June 27. The physical album will be available in three versions: Dirty Case, Dirty Worker, and Dirty Code. On June 20, KST, the group also announced a limited edition “ring version,” which will include a silver ring and a steel chain necklace along with the usual goodies. Notably, the album does not contain a physical CD.
While the collectible accessories made the album an exciting new addition to the lineup, many netizens were taken aback by its price. This special version of the album has been listed at ₩163,000 KRW (about $119 USD), that too at a 19% discount on the original price of ₩202,000 KRW (about $147 USD). In comparison, the usual albums are priced between ₩15,100 KRW (about $11.00 USD) and ₩31,900 KRW (about $23.20 USD).
When a netizen pointed out this album’s pricing on Instiz, the post attracted some heated reactions, with some calling out how expensive it was and others admitting that the product looked tempting despite the price.
- “Still, I think it will be sold out.”
- “I do kinda want it though.”
- “Expensive as f*ck.”
- “Although it contains the ring, wouldn’t it be around ₩30,000 KRW (about $21.80 USD) to ₩50,000 KRW (about $36.40 USD)? Even after adding the price of the album, it’s too expensive.”
- “Huh?”
- “It’s not like they collaborated with someone, right? The design matches the song well, though.”
Some fans also complained about the pricing under aespa’s post, calling out SM Entertainment.
