Shoppers in Seoul's Myeong-dong district can sort through boxes of free K-pop albums, including releases by groups such as NCT and Ive.
What looks like a simple giveaway reflects a broader feature of K-pop fandom: Collectors often buy multiple copies for photocards or chances to attend events, then leave the discs behind.
Here's what to know
According to The Korea Herald, one of the stores embracing that idea is K-pop Shop, which opened in February and gives away secondhand albums at no charge.
The giveaway selection mixes best-selling idol releases with albums from lesser-known performers, and some copies still include photobooks.
Much of that excess comes from customers chasing photocards and other limited extras, said Choi, 66, who owns K-pop Shop; after pulling out the collectibles, fans often abandon the rest of the album package, The Korea Herald reported. He added that some overseas buyers ask sellers to mail only the inserts, with the CDs left behind.
Among the visitors drawn in by the free albums is Muller, a 24-year-old tourist from Germany and a Tomorrow X Together fan, who stopped by again during a weeklong trip to South Korea to find souvenirs for friends.
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"I didn't expect there to be so many different albums to choose from," Muller said, per The Korea Herald.
She added that physical albums still carry meaning for many fans: "There's something special about having an actual album on your shelf. It feels more personal than just streaming the songs."
More background
The practice behind the growing pileup extends well beyond a single shop.
And the buying pattern is not confined to South Korea.
Fans in Europe and other overseas markets also organize joint purchases to support their favorite artists and boost album sales.
In South Korea, album purchases are also tied to access to official fan events. Buying albums can serve as entry for fan signings, video calls, and music show appearances, while lottery-style events can prompt fans to buy dozens or even hundreds of copies to improve their chances of being picked.
The result has fueled concerns about waste, since most listeners now use streaming services rather than CDs.
Environment Ministry data obtained by the Hankook Ilbo in April showed 13 local entertainment companies generated 7,348 tons (6,667 metric tons) of plastic products, including CDs and packaging materials, from 2021 to 2024.
The data put that figure at about the weight of 4,445 midsize cars.
What's being done?
Before starting the giveaway, Choi said the shop kept albums left behind by customers until record labels approved getting rid of them.
Once those copies were cleared for disposal, he chose to hand them out to international K-pop fans visiting Korea instead of throwing them away.
Instead of being trashed, the abandoned albums can become souvenirs for travelers and collectibles for younger fans who may not be able to afford full-price releases.
In Seoul, boxes of albums can end up on someone else's shelf instead of in the waste stream.
Choi said, "I thought it would be nice to give them to fans instead, especially younger visitors from overseas who might not be able to afford albums. I wanted to offer them something special."
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