November 11 is a day with numbers looking like the popular snack “Pepero”, so this date is considered “Pepero Day” in Korea, where young people often show affection for each other via gifting boxes of Pepero. As a result, many K-pop idols would prepare special gifts related to Pepero for their fans on this special day.
THE BOYZ’s Eric is no exception to this trend, and on Pepero Day every year, he would share a handwritten message for fans and an image of the popular snack.
However, this year posed quite a difference for Eric, as the male idol continued to share a sweet handwritten note… but this time next to a box of condom, shocking many people. He later deleted the photo amid wild reactions from netizens.
As it turns out, this condom box is a special collaboration between the brand Barunsaenggak and the convenience store GS25 to celebrate Pepero Day, leading to the condom box being designed to look like a Pepero Box.
Eric, fooled by the design, ended up flustered and explaining his situation later on via the fan communication platform “Bubble”.
In particular, the male idol wrote, “Honestly, I was so embarrassed and flustered that I hid in my room the entire week… After work today, I went to a convenience store near my place and there was a display of ‘Pepero’ outside, so I wanted to buy some. I didn’t know (about the special condom box) what they were for or why they were there… “
According to the male idol, the Pepero-look-alike box included the term “Dear”, and so he thought writing TheB (THE BOYZ’s fan name) next to it, it would be perfect.
In the end, the situation escalated as the condom box looked so much like Pepero, leaving Eric deep in embarrassment. Still, the male idol hoped that fans received his message well.
The entire situation has since gone viral on Korean forums, with netizens leaving comments comforting Eric that they would also be mistaken if they were hime.
Below are some comments from netizens:
- Everyone know it’s a mistake with how blatant that condom box appeared
- The packaging just looks cute and innocent, making it easy to misunderstand
- This is seriously a hilarious case
- He must have been really surprised when he realized what it is
- With that kind of packaging, all kinds of people would mistakenly buy condom