| K-pop boy group B.A.P / Courtesy of TS Entertainment |
By Dong Sun-hwa
Fans of K-pop boy group B.A.P were shocked to find out the group's 2012 trophy had been sold at a flea market in the Philippines for 4,000 won ($3.08).
The news quickly went viral after a TikTok user shared a photo of the trophy, Sunday. She said her mother bought it at a second-hand item shop in the Philippines, without knowing what it was.
| A TikTok post featuring B.A.P's trophy shared on March 5 / Captured from TikTok |
B.A.P. bagged this trophy at the MAMA Awards ― formerly known as the Mnet Asian Music Awards ― for winning the Mnet PD's Choice Award. But it is unknown how it ended up at a flea market.
The news has enraged numerous fans, especially because the 2012 award was the first big prize that the group received after its debut in January 2012. Some of them blame TS Entertainment ― B.A.P's former management company ― claiming they should find a way to get it back to the members.
"The sold trophy thing (is) breaking my heart so much," a fan commented on Twitter. "How can we return it to B.A.P?"
Others believe there is nothing more they can do.
"Let the new owner take care of it, but B.A.P's achievements will remain and be remembered by many, not only by us, but people who appreciated and knew how good and talented B.A.P was."
After bursting onto the K-pop scene with the 2012 album "Warrior," B.A.P rose to stardom with a string of hits, like "One Shot" (2013) and "1004 (Angel)" (2014). However, two members ― Yongguk and Zelo ― quit the act in 2018 and the remaining members terminated their contracts with TS in 2019.