Fans are talking about the use of particular photo cards in the idol world.
On media outlets, netizen discussed the culture of using 'unpopular' members' photo cards as disposable tools for grabbing hotteoks, a traditional Korean snack sold during the winter. A popular street food, hotteoks are served hot and usually passed onto the customers wrapped in a disposable paper for tongs.
For this reason, idol fans talked about how some 'useless' photo cards featuring 'unpopular' or 'problematic' members are best used as hotteok holders. Netizens had created this expression to refer to such cards that are difficult to sell or exchange online.
In the post below, an anonymous person had gifted another fan a photo card for free, which the recipient uploaded with the message: "Omg look how they have given me a hotteok holder since it's winter season now."
In the comments section, however, netizens stressed that such terms are only used sarcastically for "problematic" members, ones that have created a negative impact for the entire group and therefore often 'neglected' among the fans.
Some reactions include:
"The term ('hotteok holder') is for the members who have created problems, not the unpopular ones..."
"Do people really use this for that? I don't think I would want to use it for my food lol"
"Oh man, if I were that member as a celebrity, I would seriously cry"
"This is the first time I'm seeing this!"
"This is too much T__T"
"People don't actually use this. This is just a sarcastic term to refer to members who have created problems"
What do you think?
This is so disrespectful, every idol in the group should be treated the same popular or unpopular they’re in the same group, disgusting