aespa And RIIZE’s Latest Merch Blasted By Outraged Netizens

SM Entertainment’s highly anticipated 2026 Season’s Greetings have finally been announced this week, but the merchandise — and its pricing — has Korean netizens more frustrated than excited.

From NCT WISH’s tooth fairy concept to Super Junior’s detective concept, SM Entertainment has impressed fans once again this year with their unique Season’s Greetings themes. But while most artists’ packages were priced at ₩49,000 KRW (about $34.60 USD), a modest increase from the usual ₩45,000 KRW (about $31.80 USD), two groups stand out with shocking price points.

Both aespa and RIIZE’s 2026 Season’s Greetings cost a staggering ₩129,000 KRW (about $91.10 USD), more than double their labelmates’ prices.

The disparity quickly drew heat in a viral post on Korean community site TheQoo, where netizens shared their disbelief.

Many pointed out that the price rivals actual concert tickets, questioning whether any Season’s Greetings could justify such a high cost. Some fans acknowledged that the items included appear high-quality but still argued against the astronomical price increase, while others complained they’d prefer a more modest Season’s Greetings at an accessible price.

• “I thought it was a typo.”
• “Only aespa and RIIZE’s are like that. They’re the two most popular groups, and it looks like they’re just to squeeze money out of fans. I get that it’s a business, but this is too much, seriously.”
• “130,000 won??? Does it come with a RIIZE member or something?? Why’s it so expensive?”
• “I clicked in thinking it’d be 50,000 won, but they took off 1,000 lol. Guess I’ll buy it.”
• “What the hell is even in something that costs 130,000 won?”
• “Why didn’t they just make two versions, a 49,000 and a 120,000 one, and sell them separately… This price is evil, you bastards ㅠㅠㅠ”
• “It’s so expensive ㅜㅜ Please make it a bit cheaper.”
• “I saw the price and thought it included all the groups’ Season’s Greetings together lmao. Are they insane?”

While the cost is steep, the difference is less surprising when comparing aespa and RIIZE’s packages to the rest of the artists’ inclusions. Red Velvet and NCT Dream, for example, offer 10 different items per package, including posters, postcards, diaries, calendars, and gel pens.

On the flip side, aespa’s western-themed Season’s Greetings contains 18 different goods, including premium items like a pendant necklace, denim tote bag, foldable paper house, A2 fabric poster, and five different keychains.

RIIZE’s hard drive-themed package, meanwhile, features 16 different item categories, such as a metal keychain, birthday bag, and miniature boxed paper dolls. Unlike their labelmates, both of the groups’ 2026 Season’s Greetings come in visibly larger boxes designed as advent calendars with hidden content, and both also include exclusive videos.

The company’s newest rookie group, Hearts2Hearts, seems to strike the fairest balance of the bunch, with the addition of one keychain set and video content raising the price of their Season’s Greetings at ₩55,000 KRW (about $38.80 USD).