'Solo Hell 2' couple gets caught up in expensive fan meetings exceeding 70,000 won

Are ordinary couples worth more than top actors? Controversy is also arising as the couple from 'Solo Hell 2', which turned out to be less topical, received higher fan meeting prices than celebrities.

On the 18th, Cho Yung-jae and Choi Seo-eun announced that they would hold a fan meeting '2023 Yungseo Fan Meeting - Wishing You Good Luck' for about 80 minutes at Empat Hall in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul on February 11th.

Cho Yung-jae recently posted on his personal account, "Thanks to good connections, I had a fan meeting with Seo-eun. Please check the post for more details. Thank you."

This notice, which was posted with the title '[2023 Yoong Seo Fanmeeting] Information on opening tickets for the first round of 'Best Wishes for Yoong Seo'', said, "There is no need for chocolate this Valentine's Day. Because there is a 'Yong Seo' couple who is sweeter than chocolate. They attract attention wherever they go. Focus! A special fan meeting with Hyunker Cho Yung-jae and Choi Seo-eun. After the hot summer in Hell, the first winter as a couple. The event was announced with the phrase, “We invite you to Heaven.”

The duration of this fan meeting performance is approximately 80 minutes, the price is approximately 77,000 won, and an autographed poster will be provided upon advance reservation.

However, some netizens were taken aback by pointing out the price of the two people's fan meeting. Opinions were raised such as “An ordinary couple is suddenly having a fan meeting”, “Why are they creating this controversy when they don’t just do a couple YouTube channel”, “It’s more expensive than the price of an actor’s fan meeting”, “It’s too expensive and absurd.” In particular, since the two had not had much communication with fans since 'Solo Hell 2', they were suspected of having a financial purpose.

In fact, Park Eun-bi, the leading actress who recently threw Korea into the 'Woo Young-woo' craze, priced all seats at 55,000 won at her first fan meeting held recently, and the price for Suzy's fan meeting from the group Miss A was the same.

Additionally, for male actors, Lee Jong-seok's fan meeting was held at 55,000 won for all seats, while Lee Je-hoon's fan meeting was held at 66,000 won for first-floor seats and 55,000 won for second-floor seats.

In the end, the couple Jo Yung-jae and Choi Seo-eun provided an explanation. He said, "We are fully aware that many people have voiced concerns about the ticket price. We apologize for disappointing you regardless of the reason. This event will be held in a small 120-seat small theater, and the ticket price includes rental fees and event organizer costs. “Except for things like this, we agreed to only receive a fee equivalent to Geomabi fee,” he explained.

He continued, "The purpose of this event is to communicate with those who had difficulty making it to the site for about 100 minutes and at the same time broadcast it online to repay those who sent their hearts from afar. Unintentionally, our intention was misinterpreted, but this too was lacking in explanation. “It is disrespectful. I will be careful about my behavior in the future,” he said.

‘Solo Hell 2’ did not gain as much popularity as the previous season. 'The Second Phrygia' never came out and ended without a word. Jo Yung-jae and Choi Seo-eun met on 'Solo Hell 2' and developed into a real-life couple. If the two started dating last summer, they've only been dating for about six months. Holding an 'expensive paid' fan meeting at a time when we need to get to know each other well and share a deep connection is likely to cause misunderstanding. Only two people know whether the purpose of the fan meeting is for fans or to make money. But it is true that whatever it is, it is a hasty judgment.

Ryu Ye-ji, Ten Asia Reporter ryuperstar@tenasia.co.kr