JYP Cuts Stray Kids Fan Kit Price After Backlash

• JYP reduced the Stray Kids fan kit pricing from ₩22,000 to ₩10,000 following fan complaints over its costs.
• The solo songs that were supposed to come with the kit will now be released with SKZ-REPLAY.
• The response echoes broader fan dissatisfaction with escalating K-pop expenditures, such as tickets and merchandise.

JYP Entertainment has decreased the price of the Stray Kids STAY 6th-generation fan club kit and its contents after the company received widespread backlash. The move occurred within less than 72 hours after the company announced a new costing, which fans claimed considerably exceeded previous versions.

Stray Kids Membership Kit Content Slimmed and Repriced

The Stray Kids membership kit, separate from the digital fan club subscription, was initially priced at ₩22,000 (~$15.39 USD), but has been lowered to ₩10,000 (~$7.00) due to criticisms. JYP also excluded a planned album plush keyring from the kit's contents. The solo tracks that were supposed to be included with the keyring will now be part of an upcoming SKZ-REPLAY digital release scheduled for the latter half of 2026. 

Fans expressed surprise and displeasure online, noting that while the headline price was reduced, the actual value, which came along with the plush/physical album aspect, diminished completely. This prompted people to think that the kit amounted to fewer products for a somewhat lower cost, essentially meaning that a higher payment could potentially give more items or benefits.

Interestingly, Stray Kids members also addressed the situation. During a livestream on Jan 24, 2026, group member Hyunjin mentioned fan discontent, saying he spoke with the organization personally after hearing the issues, but the scenario was "unfortunately out of the members' control." Fans regarded his addressal to be helpful, however, noted its limited impact on business decision-making. 

Fan club membership revenue has become a growing, yet tangible aspect of K-pop's business model, with the Stray Kids controversy serving as the most recent flashpoint. According to a Reddit post, previous versions of STAY memberships featured kits that were more directly related to the membership fee. Under the fifth generation, for instance, the kit and card were included with the base membership fee.

Rising Costs in K-pop Sector and Fan Backlash

The Stray Kids crisis highlights a bigger trend in K-pop fandom economics, which includes mounting concert ticket costs, merchandise, and membership benefits. Concert ticket costs have skyrocketed within the past ten years, with premium sections often costing more than ₩200,000 (~ $139.90) each ticket, roughly double the earlier average costs. Some groups' tickets now include premium bundles like sound checks or meet-and-greets, which raises the base price for close-in seats.

Complaints about exorbitant ticket prices are a common topic of discussion in fan groups for both new bands like ILLIT, CORTIS, and ENHYPEN and established stars like BTS and BLACKPINK. Many fans object that rising costs are making live experiences unaffordable for younger or international audiences.

The Stray Kids' membership fee changes may indicate sensitivity to fan discontent in an era when communities are outspoken, mobilized, and quick to highlight alleged excesses. Whether this leads to bigger changes in K-pop ticketing and fan interaction economics in 2026 and beyond remains to be seen.