Fair Trade Commission Investigates SM, JYP, and Others for Bundling 'Poca' with Idol Albums

The Fair Trade Commission conducted on-site investigations into the 'bundling sales' of idol goods targeting major entertainment agencies.

According to industry sources on the 3rd, the Fair Trade Commission recently carried out on-site investigations targeting major entertainment agencies such as SM Entertainment and JYP Entertainment.

The Commission is reported to have investigated whether they unfairly bundled goods such as albums and photocards of idol groups for sale. Photocards are cards printed with photos of idols that have not been released online. They are included as items inside the albums. Accordingly, among idol fans, it is common to purchase albums in large quantities to obtain the desired cards.

Through the investigation, the Fair Trade Commission is expected to determine whether such photocard bundling sales are unfair compared to normal trading practices and whether they restricted competition. Selling one product bundled with another separate product may constitute an unfair act under the Fair Trade Act.

Earlier, in January of this year, the Fair Trade Commission announced its major business plan and had warned that it would inspect unfair practices such as obstructing purchase cancellations in the idol goods market. A Fair Trade Commission official stated, “We cannot comment on whether a specific case is under investigation or on the details.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.