A fan stole his grandmother to buy $36,000 in K-pop merchandise
How far can you go as a fan? A Filipino teen has gone viral on online communities and SNS after learning she stole more than PHP 2 million ($36,000) from her grandmother just to buy K-pop merchandise.
(Pictured: Bea (Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho) K-Pop Merchandise Collection)
Across various K-Pop communities and social media platforms, a Filipino teenager has been making waves around the world after his story was featured on Filipino TV show Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho.
The show, which aired March 5, featured a young K-pop fan after she allegedly stole around PHP 2 million (about US$36,000) from her grandmother’s shop to buy her collection of K -to fund pop products – which later became – ” Addiction.”
The fan’s mischief was discovered when her aunt “Jasmin” came across her niece’s collection hidden behind her closet. What looks like a thick stack of paper was actually 3,000 photo cards organized into 23 different folders and about 50 albums by different K-pop artists, including duplicates.
Among the photo cards were NCT Jaehyun’s, which cost 50,000 pesos (about $908 USD). There are about three NCT cards with this price which makes the aunt panic as to where her niece has the money to buy them as her family is not wealthy.
(Pictured: Bea (Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho) K-Pop Merchandise Collection)
(Pictured: Bea (Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho) K-Pop Merchandise Collection)
To protect her identity, the so-called “Bea,” a high school student, admitted to robbing her grandmother’s store, where she worked as a cashier, to earn extra pocket money.
Her grandmother “Agnès” is the one who raised her after “Bea’s” parents split up, so she entrusted the shop with her grandson.
At first she thought business wasn’t going well due to low income, until she found out that “Bea” was stealing her pocket money to fund her personal collection. .
(Pictured: Bea (Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho) K-Pop Merchandise Collection)
In “Bea’s” defense, the maximum she’s ever taken could have been 20,000. She went on to explain why she loves collecting K-Pop items, saying:
“It makes me happy every time I unpack (my goods), it gives me excitement.”
(Pictured: Bea (Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho) K-Pop Merchandise Collection)
“Bea,” who was introduced to K-pop by her friends, added:
“There’s that satisfaction every time I’ve managed to draw the idol face card I’ve been craving.”
According to a recent census, the goods purchased by Bea totaled 2.7 million pesos (about $49,000). The teenager will follow the advice and her collection will also be sold via online live sale to recoup lost money.
How Filipino K-Pop Fans React After Bea’s Story
As of March 7, K-pop fandoms first help “Bea’s” Twitter shop sell their prized collectibles.
Hello everyone! We created this account for all KPop fans who want to help our family by buying KPop products from Bea’s Collection. Mula sa aming pamilya, maraming maraming salamat po sahat ng sumusuporta and nais tumulong! 🙏🏻🤍 #kmjs
— Collection KPop de Bea (@kpopjagiyaph) March 5, 2023
However, there are many fans who raise eyebrows and say the story is actually a script, and then “reveal” that Bea’s family is actually using the sentiments of K-pop fans to grow their merchandise business.
DO NOT BUY FROM @kpopjagiyaph ‼️
everything is planned. Here is the last post from Des Batas, Bea’s sister, 5 days ago before the KMJS episode aired. #CANCELKPOPJAGIYAPH pic.twitter.com/rhlpe1lIZG
— Jay Best Boy (@nocontextpjs) March 7, 2023
Additionally, people began to be skeptical that the family really wasn’t wealthy after discovering that they actually lived quite a luxurious lifestyle prior to the episode.
At the time of writing, the Philippine TV show that aired the story has not released its position on these claims.
For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here on KpopStarz.
KpopStarz owns this item.
Written by Eunice Dawson.
