Beloved Star Sparks Unexpected Debate Over Pokémon Cards

A beloved star has sparked debate among netizens after purchasing Pokémon cards worth about ₩50.0 million KRW (about $37,200 USD).

Reactions were divided between those who found the hobby expenditure hard to understand and those who said personal tastes must be respected.

On October 1st, a video titled “The World’s No. 1 Pokémon Card… Kangnami Got It” was posted on the YouTube channel Kangnami.

At the Pokémon card event, Kangnam said, “I wasn’t invited, I just came. The admission line is really long,” and added, “If there’s something good today, I want to check it out. This is my first time,” showing his anticipation.

Once inside, he looked around rare collectibles including a card worth ₩1.80 million KRW (about $1,340 USD), cards graded 10 by appraisal company ARS, and Luigi Pikachu.

What caught Kangnam’s attention was a card he had long wanted to have. However, the price was about ₩50.0 million KRW (about $37,200 USD). Kangnam hesitated briefly, asking, “Is that price right? 50 million won?” A staff member explained, “That’s exactly the market value.”

After some consideration, Kangnam decided to buy, saying, “This seems like the best card here right now.” Having acquired the card he wanted, he joked, “Hey, I should work hard. I really should.”

But viewers’ reactions to the video were mixed.

Some netizens expressed discomfort with the high purchase price, saying, “50 million won? That feels unfair,” “It’s too expensive for something printed nicely on paper,” and “I don’t understand this genre no matter how hard I try.” Some comments even said, “Let’s stop the Pokémon card content now.”

On the other hand, others argued it wasn’t a problem since it’s a hobby enjoyed with one’s own money. Comments included, “It’s none of anyone’s business if I buy it with my own money,” and “It’s like an unattainable dream, but they’re sharing it publicly so I can live vicariously,” showing a positive view of Kangnam’s purchase and content.

This revealed a clear divide between collectors who highly value rare cards and viewers unfamiliar with spending tens of millions on a single card. Varied opinions continued in the comments regarding Kangnam’s expensive card purchase.