Safety concerns raised as Filipino K-pop fans report stolen photocards
During a recent bus ride on the way to Manila, Mela was preoccupied with watching videos on her phone that she barely noticed a fellow passenger remove the pocket-sized photo of Jimin — a member of the K-pop supergroup BTS — dangling from her bag.
Upon realizing what happened, the man, whom Mela described as someone who appeared to be in his 40s, had already alighted the bus.
The incident stunned Mela, who previously thought she had no reason to be worried about the merchandise — which fans call "photocards" — that she regularly brought in public since last year.
"Wala naman kasi ako fear na mawawala ['yong photocard] kasi everyday ko naman siyang dala," the 23-year-old K-pop fan, who requested to be identified only by her first name, told ABS-CBN News.
(I was never scared of losing the card since I brought it everyday.)
"Hindi naman talaga siya usually nangyari... Kahit sa mga concert na madalas na mas madami pa akong dalang photocard, hindi naman siya nawawala," Mela added.
(This doesn't usually happen... Even in concerts where I bring a lot more photocards, they don't go missing.)
Read more: https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/03/11/23/filipino-k-pop-fans-report-photocard-theft