aespa’s Shocking “Cheap” Gifts Thrown In Trash Cans En-Masse By Angry Fans
aespa recently gave food gifts to fans who attended their pre-recording for this year’s MBC Gayo Daejejeon. The gifts (often referred to as “reverse fan support” in Korea) were meant as a thank-you to those who showed up early for the schedule, as the group will not be attending the live broadcast.
While MBC Gayo Daejejeon airs live on New Year’s Eve, aespa is set to be in Japan that night for an overseas performance.
However, what was meant to be a gesture of appreciation quickly turned into a major controversy.
According to fans, the gift bags contained ssambap, a simple Korean meal made up of rice and side dishes wrapped in leafy vegetables such as lettuce or perilla leaves.
에스파 가요대제전 역조공
쌈밥? 물 핫팩 pic.twitter.com/lCkF7dLqEu
— 카츠 (@karinyaaang) December 28, 2025
aespa’s MBC Gayo Daejejeon reverse fan support
Ssambap(?), water, and hot pack.
— @karinayaaang on X
While ssambap is a common everyday food in Korea, many fans felt it was inappropriate as a fan gift for a large broadcast event.
돈도 존나 벌어놓고 겨우? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ https://t.co/FhOAvzP71U
— 니엄마 (@o4onhn) December 28, 2025
They make a f*ckton of money and this is all they give? LMAO
— @o4onhn on X
Criticism grew even stronger after photos began circulating online showing trash cans filled with untouched gift bags.
Some fans viewed this as a sign of protest, while others said it reflected disappointment with the quality of the gifts.
이걸 왜 빠순히 탓하노 먹기 싫지 않게 하셨어야지 돈내고 따라다니는데 억지로 먹기 까지 해야해? https://t.co/KeRBpHza69
— ໊ (@nittongkkooo) December 28, 2025
Why are people blaming the fangirls for [throwing it away]? They should’ve made it so people would want to eat it. We pay money to follow them around, do we have to force ourselves to eat their food too?
— @nittongkkooo on X
Several viral tweets compared aespa’s gift bags to those given by other idol groups during pre-recordings. Fans pointed out that groups like ILLIT reportedly provided full meals along with snacks, desserts, photocards, stickers, hot packs, water, and even makeup items. BLACKPINK, LE SSERAFIM, and NewJeans were also mentioned as examples of groups known for more detailed and generous fan gifts.
블랙핑크 르세라핌 뉴진스 역조공 https://t.co/FhOAvzP71U pic.twitter.com/61s3phwK15
— 니엄마 (@o4onhn) December 28, 2025
BLACKPINK, LE SSERAFIM, and NewJeans’ reverse fan support.
— @o4onhn on X
ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ 같은 에셈 선배인 엔시티도 매번 이렇게 해주는데 이년들은 뭐임? https://t.co/FhOAvzP71U pic.twitter.com/11IckwgnQS
— 니엄마 (@o4onhn) December 28, 2025
LMAO even NCT, who are seniors from the SM Entertainment too, do this every time, so what the hell are these b*tches doing?
— @o4onhn on X
Many even claimed the gifts were “half-a**ed” and cheap.
에스파 돈 많이벌었으면서
꼴랑 이거주냐? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ 아일릿봐라 닭강정에서 밥에 유부초밥 디저트 스티커 포카 물 핫팩 그 외에도 틴트도 주던데
얘네 뭐하냐? https://t.co/HYjSRc6kMX— 민정고릴라 (@h2uaisl3v) December 28, 2025
aespa make so much money and
this is all they give? LMAOLook at ILLIT, they gave fried chicken, rice, stuffed tofu, dessert, stickers, photo cards, water, hot packs, and they even gave a makeup tint too.
What are these guys even doing?
— @h2uaisl3v on X
